In 2009, 106 Member States of the UN were implementing an NSDS, as per their reporting to the CSD or its Secretariat.

Chapter 8 of Agenda 21 calls on countries to adopt national strategies for sustainable development (NSDS) that should build upon and harmonize the various sectoral economic, social and environmental policies and plans that are operating in the country.

Five years later, the 1997 Special Session of the General Assembly again noted the importance of NSDS and set a target of 2002 for their formulation and elaboration.

In 2002, the World Summit for Sustainable Development (WSSD) urged States not only to take immediate steps to make progress in the formulation and elaboration of national strategies for sustainable development but also to begin their implementation by 2005.

In addition, integrating the principles of sustainable development into country policies and programmes is one of the targets contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration to reach the goal of environmental sustainability.

Governments have continued to reiterate their commitment to develop and implement NSDS at subsequent CSD sessions.