Habitat

SELECTED DOCUMENTS HABITAT

Chapter I1: R E C O M M E N D A T I O N S NATIONAL ACTION

FOR

A. Settlement policies and strategies (Agenda item 10(a)) Preamble 4. Human settlements of today embody the outcome o f generations of ideas, decisions and physical investments; it is not possible, therefore, to achieve radical modifications overnight. But population growth and rapid changes in the location of human activities proceed at such a pace that, by the end of the centry, we shall have to build "another world on top of the present one". If properly directed, this formidable task could mobilize untapped resources and be turned into a unique opportunity for changing our manmade environment: this is the challenge of human settlement strategies.

Rec. A.2: Human settlements and development (a)

(b)

(c) (i)

(ii)

(iii)

(iv)

(v)

(vi)

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There are fundamental relationships among the distribution of population, environment, economic activities, and the pattern of human settlements. National policies for economic and social development can no longer afford to neglect or minimize the role of human settlements. A N A T I O N A L POLICY FOR H U M A N SETTLEMENTS A N D THE E N V I R O N MENT SHOULD BE A N I N T E G R A L PART OF A N Y N A T I O N A L ECONOMIC A N D S O C I A L D E V E L O P M E N T POLICY. An integrated human settlement policy sho bid: Be formulated through a truly interdisciplinary approach, concurrently with policies relating to other aspects o f social and economic development; Be formulated at the highest political level, in co-operation and co-ordination with regional and local levels as appropriate; Be consistent with the preservation, restoration and improvement of the natural and man-made environment, cognizant of the positive role of en vironment in national economic and social development; Be directed at all settlements, rural and urban, dispersed and concentrated, old and new; Be considered in all efforts to implement the New International Economic Order; Take into account the changing roles and responsibilities of women and the impact of developments and programmes on women, both as participants and beneficiaries.

C. Shelter, infrastructure and services (Agenda item 10(c)) 11. The provision of shelter should be recognized as only one element in p r o v i d i n g for living in a c o m m u n i t y . The concept of shelter should therefore be seen as embracing planning and construction in a wider context -- something much greater than the building of houses - to include planning for life in a community. This should include provision for living space, for w o r k , for education and for social relationships w i t h i n the c o m m u n i t y . In building programmes and in providing infrastructure and service facilities for the c o m m u n i t y , Governments should promote the community's cultural heritage, such as building styles in representative zones, open space usage, and historical monuments. In undertaking new construc tion, the authorities should endeavour to conserve all those values which might promote, increase and guarantee the equilibrium between the natural landscape and the human activities in the environment. 12. Regarding the choices for alternative uses of energy, dependence on sources of energy currently known to be hazardous to the environment should be considered in the context of its environmental impact and in c o n f o r m i t y with national development priorities. Rec. C.1: Comprehensive approach to shelter, infrastructu re and services (a)

Shelter, infrastructure and services, are three principal components o f human settlements. They are physically, economically, environmentally, socially and culturally interrelated. Though it may not always be possible or necessary to supply them simultaneously they will be more costly and less appropriate if planned in isolation from one another.

Rec. C.4: Designs and technologies for shelter, infrastructure and services (b) THE CHOICE OF DESIGNS AND T E C H N O L O G I E S FOR SHELTER, I N F R A S T R U C T U R E S A N D SERVICES SHOULD REFLECT PRESENT D E M A N D S W H I L E BEING A B L E TO A D A P T TO FUTURE NEEDS A N D M A K E THE BEST USE OF L O C A L RE SOURCES A N D S K I L L S A N D BE CAPABLE OF I N C R E M E N T A L IMPROVEMENT. (c) The solutions arising from such choices should therefore be: (vi) Planned so as to take full acount of their environmental impact; Rec. C.S: Energy (a)

(b)

Human settlements are consuming more and more energy just when mankind has become aware of the need to cease environmentally degrading and wasteful use of non-renewable energy resources. THE E F F I C I E N T U T I L I Z A T I © N OF E N E R G Y A N D ITS V A R I O U S MIXES, SOULD BE G I V E N SPECIAL CONS I D E R A T I O N IN THE CHOICE OF

DESIGNS A N D T E C H N O L O G I E S FOR H U M A N SETTLEMENTS, ESPECIALLY THE R E L A T I V E L O C A T I O N OF WORK PLACES A N D DWELLINGS. (c) This may be achieved by: (i} Reducing energy consumption by changes in land-use planning, building design, living patterns and appropriate transportation systems including emphasis on mass transportation; (ii) Identifying and developing new sources of energy and promoting more efficient use o f energy resources, for example through innovative approaches in design and management and through financial and other incentives for energy conservation and through disincentives for wasteful consumption; (iii) Adapting techniques for the production of building materials, for building construction and for the operation of buildings to lower energy requirements, taking into account initial and maintenance costs as well as environmental and social considerations; (iv) Emphasizing where possible the use of renewable over non-renewable energy sources and the rationalization of technologies which are currently known to be hazardous to the environment;

Rec. C.6: Long-term cost of shelter, infrastructure and services (a)

(b)

(c} (i)

(ii)

The expense of design, manufacture and installation o f shelter, infrastructure and services are only partial measures of the true cost of assets which are usually Iongqasting. IN CHOOSING A L T E R N A T I V E S FOR SHELTER, I N F R A S T R U C T U R E A N D SERVICES ACCOUNT SHOULD BE T A K E N OF T H E I R S O C I A L , ENV I R O N M E N T A L A N D ECONOMIC COSTS A N D B E N E F I T S I N C L U D I N G T H A T OF F U T U R E M A N A G E M E N T , MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS AS W E L L AS C A P I T A L COSTS. This requires: A revision of current budgeting methods which separate capital from operating costs; Changes in public lending and subsidy policies to reflect total cost and provide incentives to minimize it;

Rec. C.7: National construction industry (b) THE SPECIAL IMPORTANCE QF THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY SHOULD BE RECOGNIZED BY EVERY NATION AND THE I N D U S T R Y SHOULD BE G I V E N THE P O L I T I C A L , F I N A N C I A L A N D TECHN I C A L SUPPORT IT REQUIRES TO A T T A I N THE N A T I O N A L OBJECT I V E S A N D THE PRODUCTION T A R G E T S R E Q U I R E D FOR H U M A N SETTLEMENTS. (c) Special attention should be given to: (vi) Achieving the human, social and environmental objectives established by each c o m m u n i t y . 15

Environmental Policy and Law, 2 (1976)