This document takes stock of the 10 years of Local Agenda 21 implementation in the Basque Country: the specific actions which have helped promote Local Agenda 21, and the factors that have been essential to the success.
Source: Ihobe, Basque Environmental Agency of the Basque Government
From 2000 to 2010, 4 basic stages can be observed in the gradual maturing of the Local Agenda 21 (LA21) initiative in the Basque Country: 2000-2002, 2003-2005, 2006-2009 and from 2010 onwards. These stages are characterised (respectively) by the gradual incorporation of the Local Action Plan design, its implementation, annual assessment and periodic review. The stages also coincide with the periods of the Basque Network of Municipalities' Udalsarea 21's 3 Strategic Plans for Sustainability.

The progress made in the development of Local Agenda 21 processes over the last decade has been both notable and constant. Whereas in the year 2000, the vast majority of municipalities (92%) had still not initiated Local Agenda 21 processes, by 2010, 95% of them had approved Plans. 75% of these municipalities form part of Udalsarea 21, 40% annually assess the Plan's degree of implementation and 7% are engaged in advanced Local Agenda 21 processes as the result of their commitment to and the quality of their LA21 initiatives.