152
C. von Schweinichen
cal cycles of major rivers, pollution including contamination through waste dumping,
loss of habitats and erosion, etc.
The main aim should be to prevent damage to coastal areas by identifying specific
goals for sustainability, developing and implementing strategic planning and designing instruments to achieve these goals. Planning of coastal areas has to deal with the
task of managing the spatial consequences of a wide range of technological, social and
environmental developments, to guarantee both continued economic and social progress
and environmental sustainability.
An integrated approach to monitoring and managing coastal zones could help to
overcome the difficulties which arise from the different uses of coastal zones; addressing the causes of environmental development problems, instead of focusing on their
symptoms, is a necessary condition for success. Moreover, the interrelated nature of
coastal environmental problems requires that actions undertaken at various levels
should be part of an integrated approach. It would bring together national and local
bodies with legislative and regulatory responsibilities for specific tasks in marine and
coastal zone management.
An EeE investigation of how and to what extent the Guidelines on Sustainable
Human Settlements Planning and Management are reflected in the national planning
was conducted with a group of countries (Implementation of sustainable human settlements policies: the case of Finland, Greece, Norway and Poland). Recent developments indicated that in the institutional hierarchies, the role oflocal authorities is emphasised. The delegation of planning power to the local level varies in national contexts, as does the scope for public participation and voluntary action facilitated by the
regulations. Problems in the functioning of the planning system, however, are mostly
associated with local conflicts over land-use allocation, efficient control over development and trade-offs between conflicting objectives associated with economic, social
and environmental priorities. Making environmental concerns a top priority is, however, problematic. The experience indicates that strong industrial interests do not want
to be "fenced in" by local planning. Likewise, the municipalities tend to interpret national goals according to their own priorities. Various local issues compete with national principles and often local pragmatism tends to overrule the environmental expertise.
The EeE Guidelines on Sustainable Human Settlements Planning and Management
(UN EeE 1996a) and the Environmental Programme for Europe (UN EeE 199sa) recommend promoting at the national level of close coordination on environmental aspects when preparing major sectoral decisions. Planning policies affecting the individual elements of each sector, such as housing, transport and industry, and infrastructure have direct consequences in terms ofland consumption, loss of natural areas (habitats and species), energy consumption, effectiveness of infrastructure investment, quality
of air, soil and water, stability of natural processes (e.g. water filtration, climate, cleansing air of pollutants, etc.), equitable access, range of options or choices, and human
health, safety, mobility and enjoyment.
The environmental problems addressed in the EeE Guidelines are reflected in nationallegislation to a different extent. Although none of the countries closely looked at
(ibidem) lacks environmental legislation, the actual priorities and national strategies
vary substantially. The reason for this diversity is in part related to differences in political and economic priorities. Environmental issues are rarely a top priority. Rather, an
C. von Schweinichen
cal cycles of major rivers, pollution including contamination through waste dumping,
loss of habitats and erosion, etc.
The main aim should be to prevent damage to coastal areas by identifying specific
goals for sustainability, developing and implementing strategic planning and designing instruments to achieve these goals. Planning of coastal areas has to deal with the
task of managing the spatial consequences of a wide range of technological, social and
environmental developments, to guarantee both continued economic and social progress
and environmental sustainability.
An integrated approach to monitoring and managing coastal zones could help to
overcome the difficulties which arise from the different uses of coastal zones; addressing the causes of environmental development problems, instead of focusing on their
symptoms, is a necessary condition for success. Moreover, the interrelated nature of
coastal environmental problems requires that actions undertaken at various levels
should be part of an integrated approach. It would bring together national and local
bodies with legislative and regulatory responsibilities for specific tasks in marine and
coastal zone management.
An EeE investigation of how and to what extent the Guidelines on Sustainable
Human Settlements Planning and Management are reflected in the national planning
was conducted with a group of countries (Implementation of sustainable human settlements policies: the case of Finland, Greece, Norway and Poland). Recent developments indicated that in the institutional hierarchies, the role oflocal authorities is emphasised. The delegation of planning power to the local level varies in national contexts, as does the scope for public participation and voluntary action facilitated by the
regulations. Problems in the functioning of the planning system, however, are mostly
associated with local conflicts over land-use allocation, efficient control over development and trade-offs between conflicting objectives associated with economic, social
and environmental priorities. Making environmental concerns a top priority is, however, problematic. The experience indicates that strong industrial interests do not want
to be "fenced in" by local planning. Likewise, the municipalities tend to interpret national goals according to their own priorities. Various local issues compete with national principles and often local pragmatism tends to overrule the environmental expertise.
The EeE Guidelines on Sustainable Human Settlements Planning and Management
(UN EeE 1996a) and the Environmental Programme for Europe (UN EeE 199sa) recommend promoting at the national level of close coordination on environmental aspects when preparing major sectoral decisions. Planning policies affecting the individual elements of each sector, such as housing, transport and industry, and infrastructure have direct consequences in terms ofland consumption, loss of natural areas (habitats and species), energy consumption, effectiveness of infrastructure investment, quality
of air, soil and water, stability of natural processes (e.g. water filtration, climate, cleansing air of pollutants, etc.), equitable access, range of options or choices, and human
health, safety, mobility and enjoyment.
The environmental problems addressed in the EeE Guidelines are reflected in nationallegislation to a different extent. Although none of the countries closely looked at
(ibidem) lacks environmental legislation, the actual priorities and national strategies
vary substantially. The reason for this diversity is in part related to differences in political and economic priorities. Environmental issues are rarely a top priority. Rather, an