Agenda 21 resulting from the United Nations Conference on Environment
and Development (UNCED) in 1992 in Rio de Janeiro was the first
international document highlighting the importance of land use planning
for sustainable development. Although the Rio Declaration wasn’t legally
binding, Agenda 21 has been adopted by many countries and adapted to
their specific contexts – often at national, regional and local level. Agenda
21 processes have given an important impulse to land use planning as
they focus on participatory planning and action at local level to achieve
sustainable development.