Michigan residents are driving more than ever, leading to the high level of CO2 emissions that cause global warming. Vehicle fuel efficiency isn’t the only solution; we need to plan cities that offer multiple transportation options.
People who move into compact, “green neighborhoods” are making as big a contribution to fighting global warming as those who buy the most efficient hybrid vehicles, but remain in car-dependent areas.
That’s the word from a new report, Growing Cooler: The Evidence on Urban Development and Climate Change. It’s penned by the Urban Land Institute (ULI) and Smart Growth America, two national organizations representing developers and advocates, and was released locally by the Michigan Environmental Council. The study includes extensive, landmark research on the relationship between urban development and the carbon dioxide (CO2) emitted by vehicles. The report represents a turning point on our understanding of this issue; it elucidates the connection between global climate change and the automobile-dependent patterns of development that have come to dominate regions like our. Issues discussed in the study include:
- Why it is essential to use urban growth strategies to curb CO2 emissions from automobiles;
- How much transportation-related benefits we can expect to see from creating more compact growth; and
- What policy changes and recommendations will make such growth possible.
“Well-planned communities give residents the option to walk, bike or take transit to nearby shopping, retail and entertainment. Being able to spend less time behind the wheel will benefit our health, our pocketbooks and the environment,” said ULI Senior Resident Fellow William H. Hudnut, III, former mayor of Indianapolis.
The executive summary, full paper and regional data are available at www.support.smartgrowthamerica.org. Visit www.MichiganTOD.org for more information about transit-oriented development in southeast Michigan.