Schedule 21
Agenda 21 was officially launched inEco 92 – United Nations Conferencefor the Environment and Development in the city of Rio de Janeiro. Agenda 21 is based on sustainable development aimed at economic viability, environmental preservation and social equity, thus ensuring the well-being of present and future generations. Brazil prepared its National Agenda in 2002, and from that moment on, the Ministry of the Environment began to encourage the elaboration of regional Agendas 21.
In 2003, Eleonora Pacheco, coordinator of REGUA's Environmental Education program, submitted the project for the preparation of Agenda 21 in the municipality of Cachoeiras de Macacu to the Ministry of the Environment. REGUA was considered as a proponent of the project with the City Hall of Cachoeiras de Macacu as a strategic partner. The construction of the municipality's socio-environmental diagnosis constituted an effective participatory process.
In 2007, the Petrochemical Complex of Rio de Janeiro (COMPERJ) designed by Petrobras in the municipality of Itaboraí (neighboring municipality of Cachoeiras de Macacu) began to be built. In 2010, the company Petrobrás, under its socio-environmental responsibility (required by environmental legislation), created Agenda 21 COMPERJ, which included the 14 municipalities directly affected by this project, including Cachoeiras de Macacu. Agenda 21 Cachoeiras de Macacu thus began a new stage in its existence.
Currently, REGUA is an active member of the Agenda 21 Forum of Cachoeiras de Macacu, which in turn is a member of ComARC (Agenda 21 Committee in the Region of Conleste) represented by the municipalities of Cachoeiras de Macacu, Casimiro de Abreu, Guapimirim, Itaborai, Magé, Maricá, Niteroi, Nova Friburgo, Rio Bonito, São Gonçalo, Saquarema, Silva Jardim, Tanguá and Teresópolis.