The Assessment of the Environmental Component in Urban Planning Documentation and Regulations

Abstract. The issues of environmental policymaking in cities are currently particularly  relevant, which can be explained by the increasing level of urban pollution and the need to combat it, since most of the Russian population lives in cities. The analysis of international practices may be used to form modern and effective environmental policy in Russian cities. The scientific novelty of the study lies in the analysis of the mechanisms which form the cities’ environmental policy, according to its specifics at various levels – international, national, regional and municipal. The purpose of this article is to summarize the international legislative experience in the development of urban environmental policy. To achieve this, it is necessary to analyze the legal component in urban environmental planning documentation and regulations at the international, national, regional and municipal levels. General scientific methods are applied – generalizations, comparisons, synthesis, inductive approach. The authors come to the following conclusions: key legal foundations of urban environmental policy are formed at the international and national level; at the regional and city level they are modified within the powers of the authorities; to increase the efficiency of urban environmental policy, it is necessary to ensure a rational distribution of powers between levels of governance; urban environmental policy must be comprehensive and distinguished as a separate area of urban planning