Sustainable development requires action at multiple levels of governance. Why is local-level action considere…

Question

Sustainable development requires action at multiple levels of governance. Why is local-level action considered indispensable for achieving global sustainable development goals, and how does it complement efforts made at the national and international levels?

Accepted Answer

## Model Answer Local-level action is indispensable because Agenda 21 specifically states that **every local government should draw its own local Agenda 21**. While international efforts (like the Rio Earth Summit) set global goals and national plans allocate resources, local action ensures ground-level implementation — addressing community-specific environmental and developmental needs — making global goals practically achievable. *Source: Resources and Development, Chapter 1 (Agenda 21)* --- ## Explanation - The key phrase examiners expect is **"every local government should draw its own local Agenda 21"** — quote or closely paraphrase this. - Connect the three levels: international (sets agenda) → national (plans) → local (implements). This shows complementarity. - Avoid padding; 2 marks = 2 clear points roughly.

Social Science (087) — AI-generated practice question