What significant event adopted Agenda 21 as an action plan for sustainable development?

The adoption of Agenda 21 took place at the Earth Summit, also known as the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1992. This event marked a pivotal moment in international efforts to promote sustainable development, as it brought together leaders from various countries to discuss global environmental issues and to strategize on sustainable development practices for the 21st century.

Agenda 21 is a comprehensive plan of action that aims to encourage sustainable management of the environment and the resources that support life. It covers key areas such as combating poverty, changing consumption patterns, promoting sustainable livelihoods, and addressing the impact of urbanization. The Earth Summit was significant because it was one of the first major global meetings to put sustainability at the forefront of the policy agenda, encouraging countries to integrate environmental considerations into their economic and development planning processes.

The other events mentioned, like the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement, focus on specific aspects of environmental policy, such as climate change mitigation and greenhouse gas emissions, but they do not encompass the broad range of activities and frameworks outlined in Agenda 21. The Copenhagen Conference primarily focused on climate negotiations without the comprehensive approach seen in Agenda 21. Thus, the Earth Summit is correctly identified as