If you want to improve air quality, increase the density of our cities. Packing everyone tightly into the cities is one of the most meaningful ways we could fight climate change. A car that doesn't drive into work because the owner instead chooses to walk isn't going to do much polluting.
So, bring the people close enough to their job sites that they don't need to drive.
And that means employers should factor in where their new hires will be living when they hire them. Two candidates being reasonably equal, hire the one that lives the closest.
The whole business permit/building license/business permit/zoning process should revolve around this matter.You want to build an office complex? Are there enough housing units within walking distance or are you willing to build them? You want a building permit to build 200 housing units? Is there a nearby employer to accommodate? If we designate an area for businesses, do we also designate accompanying land for residential development so those businesses can employ people who will walk to work?
Cars account for a large share of greenhouse emissions. Our efforts to fight climate change would vastly improve if we, in a wise way, increased city density.
(Index -- Climate change info)
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