Searching for ecologically sustainable development strategies means application of global principles at the regional level. Targets of Kyoto Protocol on Climate Change finally become a task for particular countries and their sub-regions. This paper considers the abatement of greenhouse gases emission as a complex problem, which regional and urban governments are facing as a part of their planning policies.

The aim of this study is to analyze the environmental impacts of mobility induced by major regional development tendencies and policies in the Brussels-Capital region. An integrated modeling approach is proposed which includes analysis of socio-economic development, respective demand for mobility, and air pollution from traffic.

For several scenarios, according the policies defined in the Regional Development Plan and Regional Plan of Mobility of the Brussels-Capital region, the emissions of different air pollutants were evaluated for the year 2005. Based on modeling results a packet of recommendations for regional and urban planning was drawn. It stresses importance of joint consideration of local urban pollution and greenhouse gases emission reduction goals. Sustainable urban policies should be sought in systemic complex of measures, which would in particular favor mixed land-use schemes radically reducing demand for mobility.

Keywords: Kyoto Protocol, greenhouse gases emission, local urban pollution, mobility, sustainable regional development policies