Safety or Salamanders? Natural Hazards and Environmental Conservation in Comprehensive Planning

Sustainability

关键词: environmental law;    land use planning;    societal safety;    uncertainty;    climate change;    vulnerability;   

DOI  :  10.3390/su6074645

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

The stated purpose of Norwegian land use planning is to promote sustainable development. Environmental considerations are central in the planning process, but have to compete with many other goals and interests. In recent years, complexity, population density and similar factors have made the society more vulnerable. Several major floods, landslides and other natural incidents have raised public awareness about the safety aspect of planning. At the same time, better knowledge about natural systems, including the effects of climate change, have increased the level of uncertainty. In this article, I consider the relation between environmental and safety considerations in planning from a legal perspective. While the examples and theoretical framework are from the Norwegian legal system, the overall analysis is general and, thus, relevant also outside the national jurisdiction. Rather than being opposite and directly competing goals, I argue that safety and conservation can be promoted by the same measures, often with mutual benefits. Thus, the current focus on societal safety can actually enhance the environmental aspect of sustainable development.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2014 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.