Environment and Sustainable Development Issues and Policies

Abstract

The Blue Plan scenarios, published in 19891, showed that the protection of the Mediterranean Sea, its shores and coastal regions, could not be achieved through action carried out on the sea or on the coastal regions alone. On the contrary, it depended mainly on the overall development, environment and physical planning policies followed by the Mediterranean countries at the national level. “ Decisions on the bulk of environmental protection will be made (or not) largely at the level of the state. Essential legislation and standards will have to be established at this level, as well as the necessary mechanisms and institutions with the financing and competence to apply them... ”. The Blue Plan then invited the neighbouring countries to change direction and undertake deliberate policies based on an effective implementation of physical planning and on the preparation of national and regional environmental protection plans, along with objectives and deadlines.