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Recently a campaign of misinformation has been picking up steam regarding the UN’s “Agenda 21.” This campaign may gain even more traction was we approach the Rio +20 Conference in June. Activists have attacked the UN, accusing it of making local government decisions and denying individual rights. They're 'way off base.

Myth: Agenda 21 seeks to promote “world government” through the creation of “a centralized planning agency that would be responsible for oversight into all areas of our lives.”

Fact: This is a completely spurious charge. Agenda 21 encourages, rather than compels, UN Member States to take into consideration the environmental impacts of their land, resources, and transportation development policies. In 1992 world leaders gathered in Rio de Janero for the first ever Conference on Sustainability and the Environment. This meeting lead to three documents: the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, the Statement of principles for the Sustainable Management of Forests; and Agenda 21. U.S. President George H.W. Bush was among the 108 world leaders present at the conference when the document was adopted.

Agenda 21 is not a treaty and is not legally binding. Rather, Agenda 21 sets out a general blueprint, or a common vision for environmentally-sustainable growth. At the end of the day, implementation of any part of Agenda 21 is the prerogative of individual governments, not the UN itself. This is reflected in the document’s own preamble, which states that Agenda 21 reflects a global consensus and political commitment at the highest level on development and environment cooperation. Its successful implementation is first and foremost the responsibility of Governments. The voluntary and non-binding nature of this agreement has also been confirmed by the Heritage Foundation, a staunch critic of Agenda 21. Indeed, a recent paper by three Heritage scholars argues that it is local, state, and federal initiatives to promote sustainable development, rather than Agenda 21 and other international efforts that should be of greatest concern to opponents of sustainable development.

Myth: Agenda 21 would supersede the domestic laws of the United States and other sovereign nations.

Fact: As a non-binding agreement, Agenda 21 does not take supremacy over U.S. law. National governments are ultimately in charge of their own development, and neither the UN nor any other international organization has the right to encroach on the sovereignty of any country in the implementation of Agenda 21. The basis of the international system is that all countries pursue whatever is in their national interest. A founding pillar of sustainable development is national sovereignty over natural resources.

Myth: The UN is bypassing national governments, using the International Council of Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI) “to make agreements directly with local governments” on implementing Agenda 21.

Fact: It says nothing of the sort. Agenda 21 does not call for the confiscation or appropriation of land or property anywhere, in any country. It is fully consistent with personal freedoms and the right of citizens to own property, homes, cars and farms.

Myth: Agenda 21 calls for the elimination of private property ownership, single-family homes, private car ownership and individual travel choices, as well as family farms.

Fact: Many municipalities and cities around the world have found that Agenda 21 is a very good guide for their own urban planning efforts and have joined an international group—ICLEI—to help implement some of its recommendations. ICLEI is not part of the UN. Many cities and towns throughout the U.S. belong to ICLEI, but their participation is not linked to any UN mandate.

The Blue Ridge Virginia Chapter of the UNA-USA is one of 130 UNA-USA chapters in the United States. Centered in Charlottesville and the Shenandoah Valley, the Blue Ridge Virginia Chapter was established in September 2003 to support the UN through strong and constructive U.S. leadership in the UN and its affiliated agencies.

The UNA-USA holds monthly meetings in the Fall, Winter and Spring. Our meetings feature presentations on a wide variety of topics intended to strengthen local support for the UN and the principles embodied in its mandate.

The Blue Ridge Virginia Chapter of the UNA-USA is also proud to collaborate with other local organizations, such as Amnesty International Group 157, UVa's Miller Center in various educational and advocacy projects, and The Charlottesville Center for Peace and Justice

una-brc@avenue.org
Last updated April 26, 2012.
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