Meeting the challenges of Agenda 21: Priorities for the science and technology community

World leaders defined a clear agenda for sustainable development with the adoption of Agenda 21, the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, and the UNCED-related conventions. Ten years later, however, progress towards the goals established at the Rio Earth Summit has been slower than anticipated. Some advance has been made in adopting measures to protect the environment through science and technology, but conservation measures are far from satisfactory. Agenda 21 and the principles established in Rio remain as relevant today as they were in 1992, but the global context has changed. The Science and Technology Community (SaTC)lsupg§l/supg has to take into account globalization, the paradigm leaps in information and communication technologies, social dislocation in many parts of the world, and the spread of HIV / AIDS. In meeting the challenges of Agenda 21 and beyond, the S&TC is aware that political will is the key to success. Practical steps are needed to establish the credibility of the Johannesburg Summit in carrying forward the sustainable development agenda in meaningful and measurable ways. Partnerships with a variety of stakeholders are essential for ensuring the commitment of all parties.