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Greenhouse gas emissions along the rural-urban gradient

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  • Clinton Andrews

Abstract

This paper investigates how land use relates to greenhouse gas emissions, using data sources that are readily available to municipal planners. It presents a causal framework linking settlement patterns to greenhouse gas emissions via landscape impacts (deforestation, carbon sequestration by soils and plants, urban heat island), infrastructure impacts (transportation-related emissions, waste management-related emissions, electric transmission and distribution losses) and buildings (residential, commercial). This is not a full accounting because it does not include impacts from industrial activities, agriculture and consumer behavior not related to land use, such as food consumption and air travel. Exploratory case studies of municipalities lying along a gradient of increasing population density suggest that per-capita carbon dioxide emissions vary widely, following an inverted 'U' shape, with post-war suburbs riding the pinnacle. Reflecting their central regional roles, municipalities with good jobs-to-housing ratios have higher per-capita emissions because they host both residential and commercial buildings. Buildings typically contribute more emissions than personal transportation. Vehicle-miles traveled per capita shrink most dramatically at very high population densities and where transit options exist. Changing land-use patterns is a political challenge because localism and outdated zoning ordinances subvert regional solutions. Technical fixes, especially green buildings, must be part of the solution.

Suggested Citation

  • Clinton Andrews, 2008. "Greenhouse gas emissions along the rural-urban gradient," Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 51(6), pages 847-870.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:jenpmg:v:51:y:2008:i:6:p:847-870
    DOI: 10.1080/09640560802423780
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Picheng Lee & Gary Kleinman & Chu‐hua Kuei, 2020. "Using text analytics to apprehend urban sustainability development," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 28(4), pages 897-921, July.
    2. Chad Frederick, 2022. "Economic Sustainability and ‘Missing Middle Housing’: Associations between Housing Stock Diversity and Unemployment in Mid-Size U.S. Cities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-17, June.
    3. Cai, Bofeng & Zhang, Lixiao, 2014. "Urban CO2 emissions in China: Spatial boundary and performance comparison," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 66(C), pages 557-567.
    4. Reid Ewing & Harry W. Richardson & Keith Bartholomew & Arthur C. Nelson & Chang-Hee Christine Bae, 2014. "Compactness vs. Sprawl Revisited: Converging Views," CESifo Working Paper Series 4571, CESifo.
    5. Kaza, Nikhil, 2010. "Understanding the spectrum of residential energy consumption: A quantile regression approach," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 38(11), pages 6574-6585, November.
    6. JiYoung Park & G. William Page, 2017. "Innovative green economy, urban economic performance and urban environments: an empirical analysis of US cities," European Planning Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 25(5), pages 772-789, May.
    7. James R. Elliott & Matthew Thomas Clement, 2014. "Urbanization and Carbon Emissions: A Nationwide Study of Local Countervailing Effects in the United States," Social Science Quarterly, Southwestern Social Science Association, vol. 95(3), pages 795-816, September.
    8. Ivan Muñiz & Andrés Dominguez, 2020. "The Impact of Urban Form and Spatial Structure on per Capita Carbon Footprint in U.S. Larger Metropolitan Areas," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-19, January.
    9. Pu Lyu & Yongjie Lin & Yuanqing Wang, 2019. "The impacts of household features on commuting carbon emissions: a case study of Xi’an, China," Transportation, Springer, vol. 46(3), pages 841-857, June.
    10. Sovacool, Benjamin K. & Brown, Marilyn A., 2010. "Twelve metropolitan carbon footprints: A preliminary comparative global assessment," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 38(9), pages 4856-4869, September.
    11. Garren, S.J. & Pinjari, A.R. & Brinkmann, R., 2011. "Carbon dioxide emission trends in cars and light trucks: A comparative analysis of emissions and methodologies for Florida's counties (2000 and 2008)," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 39(9), pages 5287-5295, September.
    12. Muñiz, Ivan & Sánchez, Vania, 2018. "Urban Spatial Form and Structure and Greenhouse-gas Emissions From Commuting in the Metropolitan Zone of Mexico Valley," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 147(C), pages 353-364.
    13. Yen-Jong Chen & Rodney H Matsuoka & Tzu-Min Liang, 2018. "Urban form, building characteristics, and residential electricity consumption: A case study in Tainan City," Environment and Planning B, , vol. 45(5), pages 933-952, September.
    14. Zhao, Ting & Yang, Zhenshan, 2017. "Towards green growth and management: Relative efficiency and gaps of Chinese cities," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 481-494.
    15. Minghai Luo & Sixian Qin & Haoxue Chang & Anqi Zhang, 2019. "Disaggregation Method of Carbon Emission: A Case Study in Wuhan, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(7), pages 1-17, April.

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