Thousands of communities worldwide are implementing the concept of Local Environmental Action Programmes, LEAP, as part of the "Local Agenda 21", LA21, striving to become sustainable communities.

In 1992, sustainable development received a major boost when representatives from 140 countries joined together for the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development and adopted "Agenda 21" - a sustainable development action plan for the 21st century.

LA21
Among other features, Agenda 21 encourages local governments in each country to work closely with their citizens to develop a "Local Agenda 21 (LA21)." Under LA21, local governments are encouraged to:

	Learn from citizens and from local, civic, community, business, and industrial organizations about their priorities, values, and proposed solutions;
	Acquire information needed for formulating the best implementation strategies, and to implement appropriate policies, laws, and regulations to move toward sustainable development in their communities; and,
	Develop local sustainable development action plans in cooperation with their citizens.

LEAP
The local environmental action plan has been an important part of cleaning up the pollution problems in Central and Eastern Europe. The LEAPs hold enormous promise for helping to solve environmental problems at the local level and involve developing a community vision, assessing environmental issues, setting priorities, identifying the most appropriate strategies for addressing the top problems, and implementing actions that achieve real environmental and public health improvements.

LEAPs are founded upon meaningful public input in local governmental decision-making. LEAPs provide a forum for bringing together a diverse group of individuals with different interests, values, and perspectives. 

A number of goals have been identified.