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Capitola Photo © Gabrielle Durio

Responsible land use planning can assist individuals and communities in reducing their greenhouse gas emissions and endeavor to protect people and resources from the impending changes in climate and sea level. Local plans and implementing ordinances that serve to guide future development may contain many policies and provisions that can help address these issues. But as new science and other information on ways to address climate change are developed, these plans may need to be updated and revised. Land use planning decision makers have the opportunity and obligation to address climate change in a multitude of ways, such as by:

• implementing “smart growth” principles that: concentrate development; value open space; encourage walkable, town-centered, and transit oriented development over sprawl
• minimizing energy consumption through land use policies and building codes
• maximizing public access to recreation areas and providing for alternative transportation (such as trails, bike paths, transit and shuttles etc.) to minimize vehicle miles traveled, and thereby reduce energy consumption
• avoiding or minimizing hazards related to sea level rise, flooding, and increased storm activity
• adaptating to other expected results of climate change, such as changing precipitation levels, snow pack, and seasonal temperatures

You may find more helpful information at the following sites:

• California Department of Energy Staff Report, draft June 2007, The Role of Land Use In Meeting California's Energy and Climate Change Goals

• The Governor's Office of Planning and Research for Guidance for Updating General Plans and for addressing climate change in CEQA environmental documents

• Smart Growth Network

• Smart Growth America

• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Smart Growth website

• The Urban Land Institute's report, September 2007, Growing Cooler: The Evidence on Urban Development and Climate Change, which documents how key changes in land development patterns could help reduce vehicle greenhouse gas emissions.