Encouraging compact land use by allowing density, building near transit, and eliminating parking minimums can have a powerful effect on the emissions a city generates.
Liberal cities around the country have mayors who love to talk about climate change, but while there are proven strategies to curb emissions in cities, many of these same mayors are afraid to upset the status quo. Transportation is the main source of emissions in the United States, so "[m]ayors can play a big role in reducing per capita energy consumption by facilitating more efficient modes of travel and more compact land use," argues Angie Schmitt.
Eliminating parking requirements is one strategy that's been implemented in Mexico City. Parking requirements make building more expensive and serve as built-in support for private vehicles over public transit. While a few U.S. cities have taken steps to reduce some requirements, none has gone as far as the Mexican capital.
Other strategies Schmitt champions in her article include creating space for sustainable transit in the form of bus and bike lanes, allowing housing near transit, and narrowing streets and slowing vehicle traffic to make the public realm safer for walkers and bikers.
FULL STORY: You’re No “Climate Mayor” If You’re Not Doing These Four Things
LA’s Trees Absorb More Carbon Than Expected, But Can’t Do It Alone
A USC study finds that Los Angeles’ urban trees absorb more carbon than expected, but while they provide crucial environmental benefits, they cannot replace the urgent need for systemic emissions reductions.
California County Approves Underground Carbon Storage Project
Kern County supervisors voted to support a carbon storage project that will inject climate-warming gases into a former oil and gas field.
Providence Could Ban New Gas Stations
The city could prohibit the construction of new fueling stations within city limits to discourage driving and pave the way for more renewable transportation infrastructure.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.
Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.
Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.
MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.
Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Caltrans
City of Fort Worth
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie