URBAN ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT AND PLANNING

Definition of EMP

      An Urban Environmental Management Plan (EMP) has been defined as a strategic document that sets out the short, medium and longer term environmental objectives and policies for an urban area. It defines a clear vision and the overall strategy and action plan to achieve quantified objectives and targets, as well as timetables, which are necessary to guide and steer daily management decisions.

 The overall objective of an urban EMP, which goes beyond implementing existing environmental legislation, should be to establish a continual, measurable improvement in the urban area’s environmental performance, achieve a concrete positive impact on quality of life in cities, and lead to a reduction of the ecological footprints of cities on their surroundings and the regional and global environment.

 
The EMP should support a more comprehensive or holistic urban policy (public and private), so tackling contradictions due to the compartmentalisation of sectoral policies. It could be the platform for the necessary dialog between the environmental department, economic department, department for physical planning and land development, etc.

 Coherent and coordinated management will not only address potential conflicts, but also highlight opportunities for synergy between policy sectors, in pursuit of sustainability. It is of vital importance that the EMP is grounded in the political system and that the politicians have ownership to the EMP and feels it is a valid instrument in setting priorities and achieves goals for the local community.

 The issue of policy integration goes beyond public administration to include the public, investors, developers and other actors. Planning processes should therefore include special arrangements to bring government departments into partnership with other actors. The EMP should be seen as a useful instrument in communicating with the public the goals and visions of the municipal council.[1]

1.             European Commission, D.E., Urban Environmental Management Plans,Benefits for Local Authorities. 2007, NS, CMW.

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FOR A BETTER URBAN ENVIRONMENT

It should be a fundamental requirement of government policy that towns and cities become more environmentally sustainable and healthy places to live. However, such aspirations will not be met unless:

• urban management is guided by an explicit policy for the urban environment;

• health and wellbeing are recognized as being inextricably linked with environment;

• urban growth and renewal are planned within environmental constraints;

• the environment is placed at the heart of urban design, regeneration and management;

• there is an integrated approach to the urban environment that takes account of social, physical and economic factors;

• there are incentives to reduce negative environmental impacts; and

• knowledge, capacity and skills to reduce environmental impacts and promote health and wellbeing are increased and maintained.

To put these principles into practice we call for:

• a policy for the urban environment and its impact on health;

• an environmental contract between central and local government which also involves the private, voluntary and community sectors;

• a major programme to improve the environmental performance of new and existing buildings;

• promotion of the natural urban environment and green infrastructure through planning policy;

• driving up a range of environmental standards (through the Code for Sustainable Homes, utility pricing and incentives to reduce waste and traffic in urban areas); and

• provision of appropriate skills and information.[1]

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1. LAWTON, J., The Urban Environment. 2007: ROYAL COMMISSION ON ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION.

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