We obviously have a huge dependence on fossil fuels. But what is the underlying cause of this dependence?
The quick answer may be the Repulicans, the auto industry, and the oil industry. Clearly, these three variables play an important role. However, I believe that urban and suburban sprawl are a main contributer to global warming.
Sprawling communities are a major contributor to climate change and air pollution, in part because they require so much automotive transportation, which is heavily dependent on energy consumption from fossil fuels, the biggest source of greenhouse gases. In addition to burning gasoline, sprawling communities have to pump water in and waste out over long distances, deliver natural gas and electricity over long distribution networks, and provide solid waste, recycling pick-up and other services over a much wider area. Each of these services uses more energy and therefore produces more greenhouse gases than providing similar services to denser communities.
Sprawl spreads development out over large amounts of land; puts long distances between homes, stores, and job centers; and makes people more and more dependent on driving in their daily lives. People become dependent on their cars due to the way cities are designed. Mass transit is poor in many cities and partially due to sprawl and the lack of density in the suburban areas.
What can be done about sprawl?
Protect agricultural and rural areas by establishing a legislated urban growth boundary
Increase funding for public transit
Intensify town centers by enhancing economic activity and promoting mixed-use development
Create more compact cities, with better bike paths and pedestrian-friendly walkways
Supporting greater public involvement in the transportation and land-use planning processes.
Funding innovative, incentive based programs for encouraging alternative transportation use, such as tax credits for public transit, walking or biking, and parking cash out and parking fees.
Requiring developers to pay impact fees to cover the costs of new roads, schools, water and sewer lines, and requiring property-tax impact studies on new developments.
I realize the concept of changing the design of cities seems insurmountable. We have to start somewhere. The future of all species on this planet are depending on it.