Growing with Less Greenhouse Gases: State Growth Management Policies that Reduce GHG Emissions

摘要

Communities are grappling with the good and bad of growth. Growth is the engine of prosperity, but maintaining a good quality of life in a growing community can be challenging. Growth increasingly produces traffic congestion, greater demand on resources, loss of green space, and other undesirable consequences. By properly managing growth, communities can reduce the negative effects of expansion while still reaping its benefits. Although not always identified as a benefit, common-sense growth policies can reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In fact, a well-designed community can reduce emissions without having to implement expensive regulations or programs. This added benefit of growth management makes 'smart growth' an even more attractive policy alternative. Three growth strategies are helping to curb GHG emissions: expanding transportation choices, conserving green spaces, and designing communities that place less demand on energy production and infrastructure.