The Urban Challenge in National Environmental Strategies

Bernstein, J. (1995): The Urban Challenge in National Environmental Strategies. Environmental Management Series Paper No.012, Environment Department, The World Bank, Washington DC.

According to a review of more than 30 national environmental action plans (NEAPs), numerous developing countries and transitional economies are addressing urban environmental problems at the national level. This paper presents the results of this review.  Specifically, the paper discusses the urban environmental issues in NEAPs: problem identification; priority actions and instruments; and, implementation. There is a chapter addressing key urban environmental problems: inadequate water supply sanitation, and drainage; inadequate municipal solid waste management; ambient air pollution; occupation of hazard-prone areas; and, loss of cultural resources. The final part of the paper offers preliminary recommendations for addressing urban environmental problems in future national environmental strategies.