UN Economic and Social Development
Division for Sustainable Development

Information for decision-making is the subject of Chapter 40 of Agenda 21, which emphasizes that, in sustainable development, everyone is a user and provider of information considered in the broad sense. That includes data, information, experience and knowledge. The need for information arises at all levels, from that of senior decision-maker at the national and international levels to the grass-roots and individual levels.

The World Summit on Sustainable Development (2002) and the Commission on Sustainable Development have continued to emphasize the importance of information for sound decision-making.