Problem overview:

     Awareness and visions: Not all countries in the Region have established Agenda 21 visions for the future, and of those that have, not many of them are fully integrated with local government or the private sector. China made a dedicated effort to assure that all segments of its society shared a common, integrated vision.

     Training and educational initiatives: The government of China along with UNDP have assisted local governments in establishing their own local Agenda 21s through various training programs, for example, the Capacity Building for Local Agenda 21 in China program.

Background:

      National visions for the future only work in concert with local visions.

      China is a vast land and there is a great disparity between the different parts of the country in natural conditions, economic base and social development. In view of this, it is essential for China to formulate and implement local varied action plans for sustainable development, which are suited to the local situations and conditions.

      A series of efforts have been made to carry out sustainable development strategies by the local authorities and remarkable progress has been achieved. Up till now, 25 of the 31 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities have organised their respective Leading Groups and established working offices for implementing their Local Agenda 21.

      More than half of the provinces, municipalities, autonomous regions and many cities have formulated their own Local Agenda 21 or action plan, such as:

• the Agenda 21 of Sichuan (the most populous province in China),
• the Agenda 21 of Shanxi (a coal-rich province), and
• the Action Plan for Implementing China's Agenda 21 in Guizhou -Challenge Against Poverty (the poorest province of the country).

      All the provinces and municipalities have incorporated the sustainable concept into their local plans for economic and social development and regional development.

      In accord with the local conditions, many local government have selected and implemented pilot projects that are relevant to local sustainable development, such as the project of employment as

• a means of poverty alleviation in Guizhou Province,
• the project of non-hazardous treatment of garbage in Sichuan Province,
• the business council to facilitate business participation in sustainable development in Shanghai, and
• the improvement of hygiene and health care in community in Beijing.

      At present, with the support of the UNDP, China has started a project entitled "Capacity Building for Local Agenda 21 in China" which has had participation by 8 provinces and 8 municipalities in China.