SELECTED DOCUMENTS

H A B I T A T

Chapter I1: RECOMMENDATIONS FOR N A T I O N A L ACTION

A. Settlement policies and strategies (Agenda item 10(a)) Preamble

4. Human settlements of today embody the outcome of generations of ideas, decisions and physical investments; it is not possible, therefore, to achieve radical modif icat ions overnight. But populat ion 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 oppor tuni ty for changing our man- made environment: this is the challenge of human settlement strategies.

Rec. A.2: Human settlements and develop- ment

(a) There are fundamental relationships among the distr ibution of populat ion, 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.

(b) A N A T I O N A L POLICY FOR HUMAN SETTLEMENTS AND THE ENVIRON MENT SHOULD BE AN INTEGRAL PART OF A N Y N A T I O N A L ECO- NOMIC AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT POLICY.

(c) An integrated human settlement pol icy sho bid:

(i) Be formulated through a t ru ly inter- disciplinary approach, concurrently wi th policies relating to other aspects o f social and economic development;

(ii) Be formulated at the highest polit ical level, in co-operation and co-ordination with regional and local levels as appro- priate;

(iii) Be consistent wi th 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;

(iv) Be directed at all settlements, rural and urban, dispersed and concentrated, old and new;

(v) Be considered in all ef forts to imple- ment 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.

(vi)

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C. Shelter, infrastructure and services (Agenda item 10(c))

11. The provision of shelter should be recognized as only one element in p rov id ing for living in a communi ty . The concept of shelter should therefore be seen as embracing planning and construction in a wider con- text -- something much greater than the building of houses - to include planning for life in a communi ty . This should include provision for living space, for work, for education and for social relationships wi th in the communi ty . In building programmes and in providing infrastructure and service facilities for the communi ty , Governments should promote the community 's cultural heritage, such as building styles in represen- tative zones, open space usage, and historical monuments. In undertaking new construc t ion, the authorit ies should endeavour to conserve all those values which might promote, increase and guarantee the equili- brium 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 conformi ty wi th national development priorities.

Rec. C.1: Comprehensive approach to shelter, i nfrastructu re and services

(a) Shelter, infrastructure and services, are three principal components o f human settlements. They are physically, economically, environmental ly, socially and cultural ly interrelated. Though it may not always be possible or necessary to supply them simultaneously they wil l be more costly and less appropriate if planned in isolation f rom one another.

Rec. C.4: Designs and technologies for shelter, infrastructure and services (b) THE CHOICE OF DESIGNS AND

TECHNOLOGIES FOR SHELTER, INFRASTRUCTURES AND SERVICES SHOULD REFLECT PRESENT DEMANDS WHILE BEING ABLE TO ADAPT TO FUTURE NEEDS AND MAKE THE BEST USE OF LOCAL RE SOURCES AND SKILLS AND BE CAPABLE OF INCREMENTAL IM- PROVEMENT.

(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) Human settlements are consuming more and more energy just when mankind has become aware of the need to cease environmental ly degrading and wasteful use of non-renewable energy resources.

(b) THE EFFICIENT U T I L I Z A T I © N OF ENERGY AND ITS VARIOUS MIXES, SOULD BE GIVEN SPECIAL CON- S IDERATION IN THE CHOICE OF

DESIGNS AND TECHNOLOGIES FOR HUMAN SETTLEMENTS, ESPECIAL- LY THE R E L A T I V E LOCATION OF WORK PLACES AND DWELLINGS.

(c) This may be achieved by: (i} Reducing energy consumption by

changes in land-use planning, building design, living patterns and appropriate transportat ion systems including emphasis on mass transportat ion;

(ii) Identi fying and developing new sources of energy and promoting more eff icient use of energy resources, for example through innovative approaches in design and management and through financial and other incentives for energy con- servation and through disincentives for wasteful consumption;

(iii) Adapting techniques for the product ion of building materials, for building construction and for the operation of buildings to lower energy requirements, taking into account initial and main- tenance 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 current ly known to be hazardous to the environment;

Rec. C.6: Long-term cost of shelter, infra- structure and services

(a) The expense of design, manufacture and installation of shelter, infrastructure and services are only partial measures of the true cost of assets which are usually Iongqasting.

(b) IN CHOOSING A L T E R N A T I V E S FOR SHELTER, INFRASTRUCTURE AND SERVICES ACCOUNT SHOULD BE TAKEN OF THEIR SOCIAL, EN- V I R O N M E N T A L AND ECONOMIC COSTS AND BENEFITS INCLUDING THAT OF FUTURE MANAGEMENT, MA INTENANCE AND OPERATIONS AS WELL AS CAPITAL COSTS.

(c} This requires: (i) A revision of current budgeting methods

which separate capital from operating costs;

(ii) 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 INDUSTRY SHOULD BE GIVEN THE POLIT ICAL, F I N A N C I A L AND TECH- N ICAL SUPPORT IT REQUIRES TO A T T A I N THE N A T I O N A L OBJEC- TIVES AND THE PRODUCTION TARGETS REQUIRED FOR HUMAN SETTLEMENTS.

(c) Special attention should be given to: (vi) Achieving the human, social and en-

vironmental objectives established by each communi ty . 15

Environmental Policy and Law, 2 (1976)