ABSTRACT
Agenda 21, the ‘Earth Action Plan’ that resulted from the Rio Earth Summit of 1992, recognized that any pretence at sustainability practice that failed to embrace local people and their aspirations, fears and needs for the future was doomed to failure. Local people were at the core of sustainability for the earth and its people: anything less could not be sustained. So it stressed the need to devolve decision-making and power to the very simplest and lowest community levels that could be identified. It would seek the help of local, indigenous people and recognize their particular and peculiar commitment to the locality and its role in their future. It emphasized the role of the family, of women and of traditional and socially learned knowledge. ‘There is a need to increase public sensitivity to environment and development problems and involvement in their solutions and foster a sense of personal environmental responsibility and greater motivation and commitment towards sustainable development’ (UNCED, 1992).
