ABSTRACT
This chapter identifies a series of factors operating nationally or locally which also help influence the practice of urban environmental management. State reforms in the direction of greater democratisation and decentralisation represent an opportunity for dealing more successfully with urban environmental management. Political leadership and vision become essential in incorporating actors who are not directly affected by environmental change into the dynamics of urban environmental management. Urban environmental management requires a new set of skills not merely on the part of government officials but, equally importantly, on the part of private businesses, professional associations, communities, NGOs and the staff of external support agencies. One must not overlook the potentially beneficial role that external support agencies can play in urban environmental management. A homogenising ethic to deal with environmental problems will override traditional ways of working in community. Supra-municipal leadership may help reduce regional or metropolitan conflict resulting from ‘environmental racism’.
