Report Says Sprawl Will Offset Any Reductions In Auto Emissions

Posted by: Nate Berg

21 September 2007 - 5:00am

A new report from the Urban Land Institute says that even with increased fuel efficiency in cars, an increasing rate of vehicle miles traveled due to sprawling development will counteract any reductions in emissions.

"An expected 59% increase in the number of miles Americans drive between 2005 and 2030 will outpace any reduction in greenhouse gases from better fuel efficiency of cars and trucks, said a report issued Thursday."

"If there is any hope of reducing carbon dioxide emissions, a key component of greenhouse gases, the nation needs to slow sprawl and build more compact housing, such as lofts atop commercial buildings in downtowns and taller buildings on less land, the report said. It was compiled by the Urban Land Institute and issued by the Michigan Environmental Council."

"The U.S. could save 85 million metric tons of CO every year between now and 2030 by adopting less-sprawling, more-compact types of development."

Full Story: Continued sprawl will undo cuts in auto emissions, study says

Source: The Detroit Free Press, September 20, 2007