Growing Cooler
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Material Information

Title:
Growing Cooler The Evidence on Urban Development and Climate Change
Creator:
Reid Ewing
Keith Bartholomew
Steve Winkelman
Jerry Walters
Don Chen
Publisher:
Urban Land Institute
Publication Date:
Language:
English

Notes

Summary:
The phrase “you can’t get there from here” has a new application. For climate stabilization, a commonly accepted target would require the United States to cut its carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 60 to 80 percent as of 2050, relative to 1990 levels. Carbon dioxide levels have been increasing rapidly since 1990, and so would have to level off and decline even more rapidly to reach this target level by 2050. This publication demonstrates that the U.S. transportation sector cannot do its fair share to meet this target through vehicle and fuel technology alone. We have to find a way to sharply reduce the growth in vehicle miles driven across the nation’s sprawling urban areas, reversing trends that go back decades. This publication is based on an exhaustive review of existing research on the relationship between urban development, travel, and the CO2 emitted by motor vehicles. It provides evidence on and insights into how much transportation-related CO2 savings can be expected with compact development, how compact development is likely to be received by consumers, and what policy changes will make compact development possible. Several related issues are not fully examined in this publication. These include the energy savings from more efficient building types, the value of preserved forests as carbon sinks, and the effectiveness of pricing strategies—such as tolls, parking charges, and mileage-based fees—when used in conjunction with compact development and expanded transportation alternatives. The term “compact development” does not imply high-rise or even uniformly high density, but rather higher average “blended” densities. Compact development also features a mix of land uses, development of strong population and employment centers, interconnection of streets, and the design of structures and spaces at a human scale.

Record Information

Source Institution:
Florida International University
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