ABSTRACT
Introduction Before 1965 the physical environment was rarely identified as a critical social problem in urban texts, journals of urban affairs, or, most certainly, in legislation affecting the cities. Poverty and race relations were the victims of similar neglect up until the 1960s. By the end of the decade, however, past indifference in all three areas had given way to a flood of speeches, conferences, research studies, and additions to college curricula, but, lamentably, not much effective, substantive action.This paper explores the feasibility of a metropolitan approach to environmental planning and program implementation. The discussion is based on four propositions. First, although there is a legitimate role for metropolitan action aimed at alleviating environmental problems, there is no special or unique reason why such a role must necessarily be related to any one type of metropolitan governing body. Metropolitan-wide governments have played more or less active roles in several countries in formulating environmental programs. Stockholm, Copenhagen, Paris, Amsterdam, and London have been much more careful than most American cities to preserve historic buildings, to maintain, in good condition, substantial inner-city parks and parkways, rivers and canals, and to set aside and protect green areas on the outer fringe.
