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Urbanism in the Age of Climate Change
“Cities are green” is becoming a common refrain. ButCalthorpe argues that a more comprehensive understanding of urbanism atthe regional scale provides a better platform to address climatechange. In this groundbreaking new work, he shows how such regionallyscaled urbanism can be combined with green technology to achieve notonly needed reductions in carbon emissions but other critical economiesand lifestyle benefits. Rather than just providing another checklist ofnew energy sources or one dimensional land use alternates, he combinesthem into comprehensive national growth scenarios for 2050 anddocuments their potential impacts. In so doing he powerfullydemonstrates that it will take an integrated approach of land usetransformation, policy changes, and innovative technology to transitionto a low carbon economy.
To accomplish this Calthorpe synthesizes thirty years of experience,starting with his ground breaking work in sustainable community designin the 1980s following through to his current leadership intransit-oriented design, regional planning, and land use policy. PeterCalthorpe shows us what is possible using real world examples ofinnovative design strategies and forward-thinking policies that arealready changing the way we live.
This provocative and engaging work emerges from Calthorpe’sbelief that, just as the last fifty years produced massive changes inour culture, economy and environment, the next fifty will generatechanges of an even more profound nature. The book, enhanced by itssuperb four-color graphics, is a call to action and a road map formoving forward.
I believe Peter Calthorpe to be the pre-eminent urban planner of our time. Herein is the first unobstructed view of a realistic, non-utopian urban society that can systemically address climate, economics, quality of life and the coming transition. The thesis of the book needs to be understood by all: the greatest and most innovative source of renewable energy rests within urban design, not solar panels or wind turbines. Peter's resonant vision creates a straight path to a workable, humane future.
Peter Calthorpe provides a distinctive framework in which effective design can channel future development to grow a dynamic, healthy, and low-carbon society. Yet again, Peter adds a critical dimension for moving us forward intelligently.
This insightful book represents an important platform for thought and design as we intentionally seek to be less destructive as a species and we begin to dream what it might be like to go forward in a way that honors the place of humans in the larger natural world.
Calthorpe points out that urbanism is often left off the list of climate solutions, but in order to confront global warming, we have to look beyond clean tech and examine where we live and how we design our communities. This book offers a blueprint for transforming our cities and towns into low-carbon centers of vibrant public life.
Calthorpe offers a double win. Making cities better for the atmosphere and climate also makes them more enjoyable and productive for humans to live in. The ideas have been proved; now they need to be applied at a climate-stabilizing scale.
Introduction
Chapter 1: Urbanism and Climate Change
Chapter 2: The Fifty Year Experiment
Chapter 3: Toward a Green Urban Future
Chapter 4: Design for Urbanism
Chapter 5: The Urban Footprint
Chapter 6: The Urban Network
Chapter 7: The California Experiment
Chapter 8: Four American Futures
Chapter 9: A Sustainable Future
