Greening US cities

Matthew Kahn and Ed Glaser have a new working paper out that is looking at the Greenness of Cities and CO2 emissions. This has some important policy implications for urban development.

The Greenness of Cities: Carbon Dioxide Emissions and Urban Development

Edward L. Glaeser
Harvard University - John F. Kennedy School of Government, Department of Economics; Brookings Institution; National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

Matthew E. Kahn
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)


August 2008

Harvard Institute of Economic Research Discussion Paper No. 2161

Abstract:
Carbon dioxide emissions may create significant social harm because of global warming, yet American urban development tends to be in low density areas with very hot summers. In this paper, we attempt to quantify the carbon dioxide emissions associated with new construction in different locations across the country. We look at emissions from driving, public transit, home heating, and household electricity usage. We find that the lowest emissions areas are generally in California and that the highest emissions areas are in Texas and Oklahoma. There is a strong negative association between emissions and land use regulations. By restricting new development, the cleanest areas of the country would seem to be pushing new development towards places with higher emissions. Cities generally have significantly lower emissions than suburban areas, and the city-suburb gap is particularly large in older areas, like New York.

Working Paper Series

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