Smart Growth and the Greening of Comprehensive Plans and Land Use Regulations

13 Pages Posted: 18 Jul 2008

See all articles by Patricia Salkin

Patricia Salkin

Touro University - Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center

Date Written: July 17, 2008

Abstract

Global warming, climate change, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, reducing the carbon footprint, and going green are just some of the buzz words in the news over the last two years that have captured the attention of lawmakers and policymakers at all levels of government. In Congress, lawmakers have proposed, among other things, mandating standards to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and governors across the country have announced myriad programs designed to encourage the use by governments of green products, the construction of green buildings, and the offering of a combination of tax incentives and grants for private developers and other members of the public who develop and install various renewable energy products. However, It is initiatives at the local government level that have the greatest potential for most quickly and most efficiently slowing the pace of global warming. This is because local governments are the critical decision-makers in how communities use and conserve key resources. Municipalities serious about curbing emissions as well as energy and water usage within their communities, to both combat global warming and to preserve the immediate environment, have found many successful ways to implement plans that reduce the strain on environmental resources. Local governments have begun to incorporate principles and goals of sustainability and carbon reduction into comprehensive land use plans. This paper begins to examine the elements of a "green audit" for local comprehensive plans and land use regulations.

Keywords: smart growth, sustainable development, climate change, land use, environmental law, global warming, green development

JEL Classification: H70, K32, Q28, Q42, Q48, R14, R52

Suggested Citation

Salkin, Patricia E., Smart Growth and the Greening of Comprehensive Plans and Land Use Regulations (July 17, 2008). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1162499 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1162499

Patricia E. Salkin (Contact Author)

Touro University - Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center ( email )

225 Eastview Drive
Central Islip, NY 11722
United States

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
657
Abstract Views
3,878
Rank
73,906
PlumX Metrics