Eco-regional approaches and Agenda 21: a policy view

Abstract

Having been asked to present a policy view on eco-regional approaches in the light of Agenda 21, the first question that needs to be answered is whether there is still any light remaining in Agenda 21. Is Agenda 21 still an issue in international relations? It seems to slowly fade away. Almost no additional funding has emerged for Agenda 21, apart from a valiant effort by Norway. The Netherlands had promised an annual increment of 0.1 percent of the Gross National Product for activities in the framework of Agenda 21, but on the condition that a sufficient number of other countries would do the same. And unfortunately, Norway is not a sufficient number of other countries.

This paper expresses the personal viewpoints of Mr. Van den Berg, and should not be read as a policy statement by the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs.