carbon-free communities: pairing land use and mobility mary bell austin green to do carbon free...

Carbon-Free Communities:Pairing Land Use and Mobility

Mary Bell AustinGreen To Do

Carbon Free Mobility conferenceOakland, CA March 6, 2009

High Expectations

Vibrant, healthy communities What role does

transportation play? Can we work together?

Beyond sustainability

My Challenge to Us All

Apply Ecological Thinking Connect the dots Play well together Integrate solutions

Care Enough to Take Risks Know your discipline Listen to others Seek to collaborate Dare to dream big

The Challenges Before Us

Climate Change Short window of opportunity 80% reduction of GHG by 2050

Peak Everything Oil, water, seafood, farmland . . .

Restoring Ecological Capital Air, water, soil – natural systems

Revitalizing Communities Clean, safe, human scale,

connected

How Did We Get Here?

Cheap oil, cheap travel Gobbling natural resources Becoming too mobile

Building everywhere, anywhere Sprawling infrastructure

Roads Housing Water

Ignoring distance Food Work Goods Travel

The High Cost of Auto-Centrism

Motor Vehicles as dominant mode 95% vehicle miles traveled 90% passenger miles

Environmental Costs Air quality - emissions Infrastructure (roads, parking) Wildlife killed and habitat

impaired Vehicle lifecycle costs

Ties to climate change

California’s Greenhouse Gas Sources2004 GHG emissions by Sector (Gross emissions: 484.4 MMT CO2e) -CA ARB

Post-Peak Transportation

Finding Solutions

Start with Communities What does livability look like?

Quiet, and green space Local jobs, shops, schools, play Local food, clean air, safe water Neighborliness - interaction Human-scale movement

Where does transportation fit in?

Pairing Mobility and Land Use

Changing the paradigm Can you give up your car?

Connecting systems / modes Can you get from A to B without gaps?

Choosing good technology Clean, safe, affordable, efficient

Prioritizing the best modes for scaled needs Walking, biking Great transit Accessories – automobiles, ships, planes, etc

Continuing the Discussion

Questions deferred Dinners tonight

Contact me: marybellaustin@gmail.com www.greentodo.com