Agenda 21

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'''Agenda 21''' is a set of hopeful guidelines for [[environmental]] action and [[social justice]] established by the [[United Nations]] in 1992 at a conference in Rio de Janeiro, [[Brazil]].<ref name=un>[https://web.archive.org/web/20121124163609/http://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/index.php?page=view&nr=23&type=400&menu=35 Agenda 21], UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Division for Sustainable Development</ref> It sets out a variety of goals for public policy at all levels and for civic action by non-governmental organizations. These include [[fair trade]] practices, [[renewable energy|sustainable energy]] and urban development (i.e. more efficient zoning), and debt reduction for the [[Third World|developing world]]. Like most such sets of guidelines, it was happily agreed upon and happily ignored for many years, except for ne'er-do-wells like [[Sweden]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20130413173232/http://www2.buildinggreen.com/blogs/v-xj-sweden-model-sustainability Växjö, Sweden: A Model of Sustainability], BuildingGreen</ref>

Agenda 21 was frequently cited by [[conspiracy theorist]]s, such as the [[John Birch Society]], during the 1990s as a purported blueprint for implementing the [[New World Order]] and [[Useless eaters|population control]], then forgotten by them for a number of years. In the late 2000s and early 2010s, several conspiracy theorists again brought up and repopularized the general idea. The most well-known among them may be [[Glenn Beck]] and [[David Icke]]. During the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], a variety of people have latched on to the repopularizing of the idea, often in connection with [[COVID-19 denialism|denialism]] and scaremongering concerning the [[COVID-19 vaccine]]s.

The flaw with any vigorous political opposition to Agenda 21 is that "the U.S. government and no state or local government is legally bound by the United Nations Agenda 21 treaty," as the [[Republican|Republican National Committee]] (RNC) &ndash; the governing body of one of the two major American [[political party|parties]] &ndash; ''accurately'' asserted in a 2012 resolution even as they officially condemned Agenda 21.<ref name="rnc"/> Accordingly, it makes no sense to demand that it be repudiated: you can argue with it on the merits of what it recommends, but it's silly to savage a set of recommendations for merely daring to exist. It's tantamount to mounting a bombastic attack on the Food and Leisure section of your local paper just because you disagreed with a food critic's opinion of a restaurant: you might want a different columnist or different recommendations or even a different section editor, but attacking the section for its audacity in existing makes you 
seem like
 a raving lunatic.

==Reaction to Agenda 21 outside the US==
Outside the US, Agenda 21 is moderately known among "Green" types and there are even some local groups that want to implement Agenda 21 and pressure local and federal politics in that direction.<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agenda_21#Local_level</ref> Apart from those groups and those dealing with them, basically nobody has ever heard about Agenda 21 nor cares about it &mdash; except conspiracy theorists and those who listen to them.

==Glenn Beck's 2012 "exposé"==
In 2012, an "exposé" by former [[Fox News]] host [[Glenn Beck]] seized upon Agenda 21 as an attempt by radical [[Godwin's Law|Nazi]] [[Red-baiting|communist]] {{wpl|internationalism|internationalist}} [[Homophobia|homosexuals]]<ref group=note>Yes, you read that right. Next time life is beating you up, try imagining what a "radical Nazi Communist internationalist homosexual" would sound like giving a speech. It won't solve all your problems, but you're guaranteed a good therapeutic laugh.</ref> to "put their fangs into our communities and suck all the blood out of it, we will not be able to survive."<ref>[https://www.splcenter.org/resources/reports/antigovernment-conspiracy-theorists-rail-against-uns-agenda-21-program/ Behind the Green Mask], Southern Poverty Law Center</ref> This began an onslaught of [[paranoia]] that has continued ever since, with even such high-level [[America]]n institutions as the [[Republican|Republican National Committee]] (RNC) officially condemning Agenda 21 as "a comprehensive plan of extreme environmentalism, social engineering, and global political control."<ref name="rnc">[https://web.archive.org/web/20120518223655/http://www.gop.com/Images/CommsLogo/2012_wintermeeting_resolutions.pdf "Winter Meeting 2012 Resolutions"], Republican National Committee</ref> The general consensus among a [[Tea Party movement|certain segment]] of the American [[conservative]] movement seems to be that [[socialism|socialists]] and [[Hippie|tree-huggers]] are using Agenda 21 as a template for an [[Dr. Strangelove|insidious contamination of all levels of society]].<ref group=note>It actually provides a great litmus test on the [http://grist.org/politics/when-republicans-say-crazy-sht-it-ought-to-matter/ wackiness of right-wing candidates.]</ref> And our precious bodily fluids, no doubt.

===Glenn Beck's Agenda 21 keyword list<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20121118071436/http://www.glennbeck.com/agenda21/agenda-21-word-list</ref>===
{{collist|5|
#Affordable housing
#Ballot box planning
#Benefit of all
#Benefits-driven
#Buffer zones
#Cap & trade
#Choice
#[[Climate change]]
#[[Common Core|Common Core Curriculum]]
#Common good
#Community protocol
#Comprehensive planning
#Consensus
#Conservation easement
#Direct instruction
#Downzoning
#Endangered species
#[[Environment]]
#Environmental Impact Report (EIR)
#Environmental justice
#Equity
#Facilitator
#Fair
#General plan
#[[Global warming]]
#Good Business Sense
#Grants
#Green House Gas (GHG) Emissions
#Greenways
#Growth management
#Habitat
#HEAL (Healthy Eating Active Living) Communities
#Healthy Communities Strategy
#[[High speed rail]]
#Historic preservation
#Housing Element
#Inclusive
#Inter-disciplinary
#International baccalaureate
#International Council on Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI)
#Invasive species
#Jobs-Housing Connection
#Land Use Policies
#Lifelong learning
#Livable communities
#Local
#Local Governments for Sustainability
#Metropolitan Planning Organizations
#Mixed use development
#Modeling
#Multi-use dwellings
#New economy
#New urbanism
#[[New World Order]]
#One planet communities
#Open Space
#Outcome based education
#Outcomes
#Parking policy
#Precautionary approach
#[[Precautionary principle]]
#Preserve
#Priority conservation areas
#Priority Development Areas (PDA)
#Prosperity protect
#Public/private partnerships
#Quality of life
#Redevelopment
#Regional
#Resilient cities
#Responsible development
#Restoration
#Safe Routes to Schools
#Sanctuary
#Scenic views and vistas
#School to work
#Sensitive Lands
#Smart growth
#Smart streets
#[[Social justice]]
#Stack and pack housing
#Stakeholder
#Sustainable Communities Initiative
#Sustainable communities partnership
#Sustainable communities strategies
#Sustainable development
#Sustainable economic development
#Sustainable medicine
#Three "E"s of [[Sustainability]]-Equity, Economy, Environment
#Traffic calming
#Transit Oriented Development (TOD)
#Transportation justice
#Triple bottom line
#Upzoning
#Urban growth boundary
#Urban revitalization
#Vehicle mileage traveled
#[[Tax]]
#Vibrant neighborhoods
#Vision
#Visioning meetings
#Walkable communities
#Watershed
#Wetlands
#Wildlands
}}

==David Icke's talk==
A 2010 talk by [[David Icke]],<ref>[https://davidicke.com/2020/11/04/agenda-21-the-plan-to-kill-you-david-icke-speaking-in-2010/ "Agenda 21 – The Plan To Kill You – David Icke (Speaking in 2010)"], davidicke.com</ref> uploaded to YouTube in 2016,<ref>[https://altcensored.com/watch?v=bMeXSlGJZYc "Agenda 21, The Plan To Kill You - David Icke"] (archived 2016 video upload), altcensored.com</ref> covers Icke's main ideas on Agenda 21 along with various [[conspirituality]] themes, and has played a part in popularizing a version of the conspiracy theory (its broadening of popularity later extending to [[COVID-19 denialism|COVID-19 denialists]],<ref name=joeydurso /> of which Icke also became one). Icke claims that Agenda 21 is a Trojan horse for world fascism, which uses concern for the environment as an excuse to justify de-industrialization, the end of democracy, [[Depopulation conspiracy theory|a drastic culling of the world population]], and more. He further compares its implementation with "a version of {{wpl|The Hunger Games||".}}

Icke also connects it all to various other of his ideas, e.g. about secret societies (tied to a great Satanic conspiracy), [[chemtrails]], weather modification used as a weapon against the people (to target farmers and rural populations so that big corporations can gain control of everything), and a planned grand economic collapse.

==2030 Agenda==
A newer UN agenda from 2015, the ''2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development''<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20200713213914/https://sdgs.un.org/2030agenda 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development], UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Division for Sustainable Development</ref> (also referred to as Agenda 2030) has goals of a nature basically similar to those of the older Agenda 21. Far-fetched claims of a similar kind about the meaning of the text by conspiracy theorists have also been made similarly to those for Agenda 21. Indeed, the two agendas have come to be mentioned together in some conspiracy theories, viewed as part of the same conspiracy, and mentions of the newer 2030 Agenda have sometimes replaced mentions of Agenda 21 altogether.

For example, [https://web.archive.org/web/20190910044641/https://thecommonsenseshow.com/conspiracy/agenda-2030s-goal-12-will-exterminate-six-billion-people one depopulation conspiracy theory] has it that the Luciferan nature of Agenda 2030 includes that Goal 12, "Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns", is really a plan to exterminate six billion people worldwide. Nothing is quoted from the actual text for Goal 12 beyond the headline to back that up, and there is nothing in it to quote to back up such a claim. Quoted below, the actual text of Goal 12 is rather less exciting.
{{quotebox|
'''Goal 12. Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns'''

12.1 Implement the 10-year framework of programmes on sustainable consumption and production, all countries taking action, with developed countries taking the lead, taking into account the development and capabilities of developing countries<br />
12.2 By 2030, achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources<br />
12.3 By 2030, halve per capita global food waste at the retail and consumer levels and reduce food losses along production and supply chains, including post-harvest losses<br />
12.4 By 2020, achieve the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle, in accordance with agreed international frameworks, and significantly reduce their release to air, water and soil in order to minimize their adverse impacts on human health and the environment<br />
12.5 By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse<br />
12.6 Encourage companies, especially large and transnational companies, to adopt sustainable practices and to integrate sustainability information into their reporting cycle<br />
12.7 Promote public procurement practices that are sustainable, in accordance with national policies and priorities<br />
12.8 By 2030, ensure that people everywhere have the relevant information and awareness for sustainable development and lifestyles in harmony with nature<br />
12.a Support developing countries to strengthen their scientific and technological capacity to move towards more sustainable patterns of consumption and production<br />
12.b Develop and implement tools to monitor sustainable development impacts for sustainable tourism that creates jobs and promotes local culture and products<br />
12.c Rationalize inefficient fossil-fuel subsidies that encourage wasteful consumption by removing market distortions, in accordance with national circumstances, including by restructuring taxation and phasing out those harmful subsidies, where they exist, to reflect their environmental impacts, taking fully into account the specific needs and conditions of developing countries and minimizing the possible adverse impacts on their development in a manner that protects the poor and the affected communities<br />
}}

==Role in COVID-19 conspiracies==
During the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], the repopularized Agenda 21 conspiracy theory, in various variations including Icke's, has grown popular among [[anti-vaxxers]] and others viewing the pandemic as fake or a "[[plandemic]]" used as an excuse for a descent into totalitarianism and more.<ref name=joeydurso>[https://www.buzzfeed.com/joeydurso/coronavirus-agenda-21-5g "An Old Conspiracy Theory Known As "Agenda 21" Has Been Rebooted By The Coronavirus Pandemic"], Buzzfeed.com (Joey D'Urso, 4 Apr 2020)</ref>

==See also==
*[[Suburban sprawl]]
*[[Automobile#Urban_planning|Effects of automobile on urban planning]]

==External links==
*[http://www.citylab.com/politics/2012/08/anti-environmentalist-roots-agenda-21-conspiracy-theory/3091/ The Anti-Environmentalist Roots of the Agenda 21 Conspiracy Theory], ''The Atlantic''

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note}}

==References==
{{reflist|2|80%}}

[[Category:Conspiracy theories]]
[[Category:Environmentalism]]
[[Category:Conservative deceit]]
[[Category:Social justice]]
[[Category:United Nations]]

Categories: Conspiracy theories, Environmentalism, Conservative deceit, Social justice, United Nations