Sprawl and Climate Change

A new study says in order to slow global warming, more people have to stop moving far away
from their jobs and shopping centers. Chuck Quirmbach reports:

Transcript

A new study says in order to slow global warming, more people have to stop moving far away
from their jobs and shopping centers. Chuck Quirmbach reports:


More people are buying fuel efficient cars like gas-electric hybrids, and using cleaner fuels. But
the Urban Land Institute has published a study, partly funded by the EPA, that suggests people are
offsetting those gains by driving more… a lot more.


Land conservationist Steve Hiniker says more miles means a net gain in carbon emissions that
most scientists link to global warming:


“So I think the news is that technology is not going to solve our global warming problem as far as
it relates to transportation.”


The new study says governments need to step up efforts to encourage people to live in
pedestrian-friendly close-in neighborhoods where they can leave the car at home. But in many
states, farmland keeps being turned into new subdivisions.


For the Environment Report, I’m Chuck Quirmbach.

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