Local authorities, locally-implanted companies and local agenda 21 : a revision of the eternal triangle

Abstract

This paper originates from the observation that local authorities often fail to focus on coordinating activities with locally implanted companies through their local Agenda 21, despite their impact upon said companies and their legal obligations to do so. We thus describe some explanations for this situation from the side of companies, from local authorities and from the point of view of the tool itself, local agenda 21.

The main findings are that there is a need for national support to local authorities and for better cooperation both between companies and local authorities and among local authorities. The question of different levels of local authorities should also be raised. Otherwise the global vision on sustainable development promoted by local agenda 21 shall be lost and actions limited to interesting but incomplete initiatives.