Italian Clean Technology

The Italian Local Agenda 21 Association was founded in 2000 and is a non-profit organisation devoted exclusively to charitable causes, namely the protection and appreciation of nature and the environment. More specifically, the Association aims at the promotion on a national level, and particularly in urban areas, of the Local Agenda 21 process, in order to achieve sustainable development through the integration of economic, social and environmental aspects in accordance with the Aalborg, Goteborg and Ferrara Charters. Agenda 21, The United Nations action plan for sustainable development, was presented during the 1992 Conference on Environment and Development, also known as the �Earth Summit', held in Rio de Janeiro. It summarises the specific actions and strategies to be implemented globally, nationally and locally by signatory countries in every area in which humans impact on the ecosystem. In particular, the system indicates the need of each Local Authority to devise a Local Agenda 21 for the community and to promote fair and sustainable development. In 2001, around 6420 Local Agenda 21 initiatives were implemented around the world. In this context, the Italian Local Agenda 21 Association plays a key role in raising awareness amongst stakeholders by means of information, support and lobbying campaigns. In the pursuit of its constitutional aim, the Italian Agenda 21 Association undertakes specifically to: Promote the principles and practices of sustainable development and Local Agenda 21; Promote and develop information exchange on Local Agenda 21 issues between institutions and operators involved in the process; Monitor, gather, disseminate and promote studies, research, good practices and in general any positive experiences of sustainable development and Local Agenda 21; Promote and/or facilitate the constitution of partnerships between Local Agenda 21 initiatives; Promote and facilitate the candidature of the Association and members to international and national projects and initiatives; Actively cooperate with the European Union, the Italian Government and other international networks, as well as with regional associations and local institutions for the purpose of mutual promotion and to plan, organise and implement joint initiatives.

SECTORS

Sustainable Development

General

The minimum aims that an Agenda 21 program must set itself are to provide basic knowledge, revive and sustain the main activities of sustainable development that are ongoing or planned in the local area, offer and make public a diagnostic overview (report on state of the environment) for the local area subdivided into ideal segments. In short, these aims can be summarized as: - disseminate general awareness of sustainable development issues; - draw up a careful diagnostic overview for the area; - publish environmental and territorial data that is acquired and information about Agenda 21; - decide on an action plan to kick-start sustainable processes.

Conservation

General

- drawing up a careful diagnostic overview for the area; - publishing environmental and territorial data that is acquired and information about Agenda 21;