RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PLANNING
6.3 Measures for Air Pollution Control

A significant improvement of the urban climate can be achieved by reducing emissions and thus the pollution of the air. Traffic planning and energy supply strategies on the municipal level are particular suitable to influence the emission of pollutants. What plays another important role is the condition and provision of municipal buildings, also in their function as a role model for private building owners.

At the other end of the causal chain of "emission (release) – transmission (dispersal) – immission (effect or influence)", a proper planning reaction to recognized and accurately evaluated immissions situations can reduce the extent of their effects.

The third pillar of planning-related air pollution controls relates to the link between emissions and immissions: The temporal and spatial variation in air pollution for a given pollution source depends upon the meteorological conditions that influence dispersal. To what extent the built environment exerts an influence here is dealt with in Chapter 2. The consideration of dispersal climatology is not only necessary in relation to proper choices of location for industrial development, but also for other emitting land uses such as garbage incinerators, trash dumps, water purification plants, and for the construction of new roads. Special location decisions are essential for facilities particularly sensitive to immissions (e.g. hospitals, swimming pools, recreational areas, elderly homes).

Planning law and pollution control law exhibit numerous idiosyncrasies and complications that must be considered in urban planning. Thus it is inconceivable that regulations for immissions control in a site plan could completely replace the standardized requirements of pollution protection law.