Urban design and transport options: strategies to decrease greenhouse gas emissions

Energy use makes the largest single contribution to greenhouse gas emissions in Australia, around two-thirds of carbon dioxide emissions. Transport is a highly important dimension of this energy use, contributing nearly one-quarter of all energy-related carbon dioxide emissions. High priority has been given to the car as a transport mode and to the infrastructure associated with it. The resulting car dependence leads to profound, complex and inter-related economic, social and environmental problems. An alternative approach to the urban development policy is to focus on the interconnections among transport patters, and land-use patterns, including distance between activities. Data presented in this paper show that in Australian and New Zealand cities high car usage and low housing density are associated with high petrol use and high greenhouse gas emission levels. Some measures to overcome car dependence are discussed such as urban design which facilitates cycling and walking, and improvements to public transport. It is concluded that the uptake of public transport-oriented development, urban villages, complementary community-scale technologies, and the re-integration of appropriate industry are the chief strategies for bringing down energy use in cities and hence associated greenhouse gas emissions. There are already signs from some Australian cities that these trends will emerge. 7 tabs., 8 figs., refs.