Using systems for sustainability in the context of agenda 21
pp. 21-26
in: Frank A. Stowell, Ray Ison, Rosalind Armson, Jacky Holloway, Sue Jackson (eds), Systems for sustainability, Berlin, Springer, 1997Abstract
Sustainability and sustainable development are terms that mean different things to different people. They are considered by some people to be rather vague ideals with implications we have yet to understand, while other people have used these concepts to identify their systems of interest and to develop clear plans of action with achievable goals. This paper will consider some of the thinking and action for sustainability and sustainable development that have taken place in the context of Agenda 21, the huge international agenda for environment and development which emerged from the United Nations Conference for Environment and Development (UNCED), also known as the Earth Summit, which was held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992 (Quarrie 1992). In particular, it will consider the extent to which systems ideas and techniques have been used by the groups of people involved.