ABSTRACT
This chapter investigates the evolution of sustainable development concerns in regional and urban planning and, especially, the search for a balanced approach to the planning of regional and urban areas in which the requirements and importance of territorial integration are recognized. It provides a more detailed examination of the merits of the concept of ecological modernization as an operational methodology for the implementation of planning strategies aimed at achieving sustainable development. In many discussions of planning for sustainable development relatively little attention has been paid to the social dimension. Equally important in the design and implementation of planning and development for sustainable development is the vital role played by strategy. Even though the adoption of the principles of sustainable development in regional and urban planning has become commonplace, considerable confusion and uncertainty remains regarding the implications of the adoption of the new code.
