Sustainable Development from the Perspective of Spatial Planning

The purpose of the article is to present the importance of environmental sustainability from a national spatial planning perspective. The article raises the following questions: What is sustainability from a spatial planning perspective? Why national and regional spatial planning is necessary to achieve more sustainable development? How can national spatial planning contribute to sustainable development? Howare national governments responding to sustainable development through spatial planning? While sustainability and sustainable development are major subjects of discussion not only among the general public, spatial development by contrast is mostly a matter of concern for urban and regional planning experts, some scientists, and a minority lay audience. This is surprising in so far as the discussion on sustainability focuses on many 'new' aspects which are not that new in the context of spatial planning. For example, the report of the Brundtland Commission and the UNConference in Rio de Janeiro stated that future development must meet the needs of the present without undermining the ability of future generations to satisfy their own needs. This need for a longer-term conception of development planning was central to the emergence of disciplines such as urban and regional planning early this century. Neither is the integrated, comprehensive approach espoused in the current debate on sustainability and calling for ecological, cost-effective, and socially balanced development actually very new to spatial development. Many countries are reviewing, and reforming systems and policies of spatial planning to improve their effectiveness in achieving sustainable development. Unsustainable spatial development trends present a considerable challenge to public policy, especially in managing the conflicts and contradictions amongst sectoral policies. Reviews of action in five European countries show that the importance of environmental sustainability is widely recognized. There are many examples of positive changes to incorporate sustainability into spatial planning law and policy; the creation of new co-ordinating and advisory bodies, innovation and experimentation with new policy and implementation instruments; and new techniques to evaluate outcomes. Ten years after the Rio conference it has to be admitted that in spite of many advances sustainability and sustainable spatial development are still more of a general model than a well-defined system merely needing to be put to effect. This state of affairs has particular implications for regions such as Central and Eastern Europe that are gradually integrating with other parts of the continent and are at the same time undergoing a difficult transition process.