Compact Cities Are Environmentally and Economically More Sustainable

Sprawl leads to more emissions, but the economic costs are also high. Policies and strategies that ensure compact growth are essential.

1 minute read

December 3, 2018, 8:00 AM PST

By Camille Fink


Dar es Salaam

Chen Hualin / Wikimedia Commons

Catlyne Haddaoui considers the implications of an August 2018 report from The New Climate Economy that says more sustainable, compact urban development will lead to global economic savings of up to $17 trillion by 2050. “Compact cities produce fewer emissions because they tend to offer better access to public transit and cycling and walking paths, have greater energy efficiency, have lower environmental costs for infrastructure, and allow for more green spaces.”

She reports that infrastructure is less costly to build and maintain in compact cities, and residents in these cities do not have to travel as far or deal with congestion and air pollution, which then boosts GDP. In addition, says Haddaoui, compact cities bring people together, spur innovation, and increase productivity.

Strategies for compact growth need to stop sprawl, which promotes auto dependence, single-family homes, and low-density development. Haddaoui says shifting people from driving to sustainable modes of travel is crucial, and this change will happen through transportation infrastructure investments.

She adds that these investments need to be coupled with national policies that further support compact development. “Governments will need to reform spatial plans, building codes and tax incentives to discourage sprawl. And they’ll need to do this while avoiding the displacement of low-income or other marginalized urban residents as inner-city areas become more attractive,” says Haddaoui.

Thursday, November 15, 2018 in World Resources Institute

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 2, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

White and purple sign for Slow Street in San Francisco, California with people crossing crosswalk.

San Francisco Suspends Traffic Calming Amidst Record Deaths

Citing “a challenging fiscal landscape,” the city will cease the program on the heels of 42 traffic deaths, including 24 pedestrians.

July 1, 2025 - KQED

Aerial tram moving along cable in hilly area in Medellin, Colombia.

In U.S., Urban Gondolas Face Uphill Battle

Cities in Latin America and Europe have embraced aerial transitways — AKA gondolas — as sustainable, convenient urban transport, especially in tricky geographies. American cities have yet to catch up.

30 minutes ago - InTransition Magazine

Row of older brick houses in Detroit with front porches and front lawns.

Detroit Says Problems With Property Tax Assessments are Fixed. Advocates Disagree.

With higher-valued properties under assessed and lower-valued properties over assessed, advocates say there's still a problem with Detroit's property tax system.

2 hours ago - Shelterforce Magazine

Google street view of red brick multi-story power plant building in Pittsburgh, PA.

Defunct Pittsburgh Power Plant to Become Residential Tower

A decommissioned steam heat plant will be redeveloped into almost 100 affordable housing units.

July 4 - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette