Could Planning Decisions Form A New Climate Change Policy?

From the Los Angeles Times:

"You can still do something to fight global warming: Live closer to work."

"That's one conclusion of a major national report published Thursday by the nonprofit Urban Land Institute."

"Forty percent of the planet-heating gases that Californians emit come from transportation, according to the report's authors, and with its booming population and sprawling suburbs, the state's greenhouse emissions will continue to soar unless it dramatically changes the way it builds cities and suburbs."

"Up to now, climate policy has primarily focused on such things as higher fuel economy for cars and trucks, cleaner fuels, greener building standards, lower power plant emissions, and international treaties. But a growing consensus of experts is also homing in on the everyday zoning decisions of local officials and county planners."

Economist Peter Gordon offers a counterpoint on his blog:

"Socialism collapsed but climate change arrived just in time to save social engineering. So there are now many suggestions on how to redesign our cities and our lives."

"The social engineering is obvious: Move jobs out of the downtowns and into the suburbs."

"Not actually. We live in a world of trade-offs and must think about the costs. Social engineers cannot do this very well and this is why socialism collapsed and why we look to markets to do what committees of wise men and women cannot."