ABSTRACT
The argument of this book has been that spatial planning has an important role to play in actions to mitigate the causes of climate change and to adapt to the impacts of unavoidable climate change. We have shown a number of examples where new planning approaches are being taken, in particular through the adoption of an ecosystems approach (see Chapter 12) to integrate envir on mental, social and economic aspects of development. Spatial planning is placing a new emphasis in its policies on the multiple benefits of sustainable development and of dynamic conservation. Planning is beginning to address the issues of the relationship between rural and urban areas, for instance in terms of flood management in river catchments, water resources, and the scope for biodiversity to play a role in climate change mitigation (through, for example, carbon fixing) and in adapting to climate change. This is being reflected in planning policies at all levels, and in the role expected of spatial planning.
