Cities and towns are starting points for promoting sustainable human settlements development. Numerous initiatives have already been launched in cities and towns to raise public awareness of the environmental impact of individual consumption behaviour, to promote environmentally sound goods, services and sustainable use of energy, water, raw materials and land by individuals and communities. The spatial planning process focuses on a broad range of issues and factors including social, economic, environmental, financial cultural factors. It is important to develop effective democratic decision making and implementation process at the local level, as an integral part of national and regional development planning, inter alia, in support to social cohesion.
Related information:
- For information on the UNECE's work on Transport, Health and the Environment please refer to the Transport, Health and Environment Pan-European Programme (PEP)
