Introduction

Rio+5 revealed that member states have been less than diligent in implementing Agenda 21 (UNCED 1992), the action plan for the 21st century developed at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in 1992. The lack of progress has placed a sobering cloud over the political and public will to respond to global environmental challenges. Although the enthusiasm and public policy support for sustainable development have been less than desired, progress has been made in understanding and documenting environmental problems at local and global levels. A better understanding of the issues, together with public pressure, has led many governments, multinational corporations, and other organizations to initiate, design, and implement sustainable-development policies and plans.