Smart Growthers Snooze, EJ Advocates Roar, Carbon Solutions Wither

The coal industry, electric utilities and manufacturers are in line to get trillions of dollars in federal funding to reduce carbon emissions, leaving virtually no money for smart growth and transit solutions to climate change.

1 minute read

March 14, 2008, 8:00 AM PDT

By Nate Berg


"Some of planners' favorite ways of combating climate change are facing major obstacles, including "smart growth." In Washington, DC, the coal companies and utilities are doing a better job of lobbying than are the proponents of smart growth and transportation alternatives, reports Bill Fulton. Planning and transit advocates -- who want to reduce reliance on the automobile and therefore cut tailpipe emissions -- have simply not been involved in the climate change bill that would direct up to $4.5 trillion over 50 years toward reducing greenhouse gas emissions."

"Meanwhile, in California, a coalition of environmental justice advocates has announced its firm opposition to a cap and trade system that many people see as essential to the state meeting its greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals. The EJ advocates have important allies in their fight against what they contend is business as usual at the expense of poor people."

Thanks to Paul Shigley

Tuesday, March 11, 2008 in California Planning & Development Repot

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

Google street view image of strip mall in suburban Duncanville, Texas.

Adaptive Reuse Will Create Housing in a Suburban Texas Strip Mall

A developer is reimagining a strip mall property as a mixed-use complex with housing and retail.

6 hours ago - Parking Reform Network

Blue tarps covering tents set up by unhoused people along chain link fence on concrete sidewalk.

Study: Anti-Homelessness Laws Don’t Work

Research shows that punitive measures that criminalized unhoused people don’t help reduce homelessness.

July 6 - Next City

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.

July 6 - InTransition Magazine