Since 1994 Tartu, the only signatory of the Aalborg Charter in Estonia, has been active in the sustainable development movement in Europe. The decision of compiling Tartu Agenda 21 was made on 28 June 1995 by the City Council. Tartu Agenda 21 was built upon the base of Tartu Nature Protection Concept issued on 14 June 1988, where the basic principles of sustainability and main goals for Tartu were declared.

These goals are:

• To secure a healthy environment for all citizens, minimalizing harmful influence to the nature of the town and its surroundings.
  
• To secure diversity of landscape and nature in the city and its surroundings and create conditions for the self-renewal and protection of natural values
  
• To increase and promote, through nature conservation activities, citizens' ecological awareness, sustainable use of natural resources, humanness, sense of beauty, and love for town and country
  

Tartu Agenda 21 consists of 7 chapters and 37 articles. The key components are: mission statements and corporate visions of the sustainable development way in Tartu, integrating sustainability into the municipality's policies and activities, main values of the living environment in Tartu, local quality of life - present state of the art, goals and environmental impacts of the main activities and services. Attention was also paid to environmental perception and consciousness, awareness raising and education, methods of consulting, involving the wider community, as well as consideration of social constraints, which have been extremely serious.

Global problems have been highlighted through local context and possible actions. The role of different target groups and inhabitants has been analysed at more than 40 meetings, two forums, workshops and seminars. Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats on the path to sustainable development were mapped and prioritised.