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2015:30). On the other hand, it should be recognized that, as in the 2nd
and 4th principles of the Declaration, sustainable development is strongly
highlighted.
Agenda 21, consisting of the preamble, four sections, 115 specific titles,
40 chapters and 800 pages, is a comprehensive action plan and program that
identifies the requirements for realizing the principles addressed in the Rio
Declaration and sustainable development, in particular. (Skalar 2015:32-33).
Agenda 21, which is a non-legally binding and flexible legal document, deals
with today’s problems of oppression and aims to prepare the world for the
challenges of the next century (Skalar 2015:33). For this reason, Agenda 21
action plan points out that sustainable development should be realized in
all parts of the society and it would be beneficial for governments to act in
cooperation with non-governmental organizations, the growth would only
be regarded as sustainable if it was in harmony with the variable production
potential, and the improvement, in this regard, would only be achieved with
the common endeavors of all segments of society and by considering the
different dimensions of the concept, and informing the individuals and raising
their awareness for ensuring the joint efforts of society is a key aspect to
sustain the development (Yıldırım and Nuri 2018:4).
Chapters 39, 40 and specifically Chapter 38 proposing the establishment of
an institution within the United Nations for the implementation of Agenda 21,
and realization of the Agenda 21 are of great importance in terms of laying
the foundation of international sustainable development law, referring to all
instruments of international law and other international environmental law
treaties (Skalar 2015:35-36).
Other important outcomes of the Rio Conference are the establishment of
the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development in 1992 with the
introduction of principles such as public participation, environmental impact
assessment, prudence, notification of emergencies and prior notification and
consultation of projects that may affect the environment of other states and
incorporating it in other documents in the following times (Scalar 2015:33).
The main task of this Commission, established in accordance with Chapter 38
of Agenda 21, is to allow that the process to follow up the Rio Conference is
designed in accordance with the principles of sustainable development and the
effective implementation of the principles and to ensure the monitoring of the
provisions adopted at the conference, to rationalize intergovernmental decision-
making capacities for the integration of environmental and development issues
and to promote international cooperation in this regard (Tıraş 2012:63). In
addition, reporting and expressing opinions to the other committees of the
United Nations are among the tasks of this commission (Güneş 2021:334).

46 Journal of Environment, Urbanization and Climate