Comprehensive Planning & Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Submitted by Indraneel Kumar

The State of California recently sued San Bernardino County for failing to account for ‎greenhouse gas emissions in its 25-year growth plan. San Bernardino County is the ‎largest county in the U.S., even larger than the combined land area of states, such as ‎Connecticut, Delaware, Vermont, and Rhode Island. (Read more here). ‎ For the first time in U.S., a state has asked for accountability of greenhouse gas emissions ‎in a comprehensive or growth plan. The way we develop land has an impact on travel ‎patterns, resultant trips, congestion on our highways, and more emissions.

Transportation ‎and land use are inherently connected. The land development patterns impact ‎transportation by generating various types of trips similarly a transportation facility ‎induces development of the land. A simple example will be a sprawling development ‎with segregated shopping areas, schools, and parks may generate several un-connected ‎trips on the roads. Similarly, a new interchange may bring forth new developments and ‎activities because of increased accessibility on the site.‎ A comprehensive plan or a growth plan is a blue print for the future development ‎patterns. It has an impact on the greenhouse gas emissions, energy consumptions, etc. ‎

There are concepts and models available for energy-efficient land use planning. This ‎could become an emerging trend in land use and transportation planning, where the focus ‎is on conservation instead of consumption of the energy. The greenhouse gas emissions, ‎global warming, and energy efficiency might affect discussions in regional planning and ‎development in the coming years. ‎