Policy Guide on Planning and Climate Change
Addressing climate change is a challenge for many policy makers. However, planners are uniquely qualified and situated to help communities deal with and adapt to climate change. The American Planning Association (APA), “Climate Change Policy Guide” establishes four primary ideas that form the framework for planners to successfully address climate change:
- Planning policies must be based on scientific data,
- Problems must be addressed regionally because the impacts of climate change are not contained with political boundaries,
- Both adaption to and mitigation of climate change are needed, and
- Planners must find newer and more effective ways to communicate the issues.
This policy guide can provide Sustainability Officers with useful information regarding the APA’s rationale for a variety of policies (e.g., regional coordination, mixed-use development, green-collar jobs, green infrastructure, local food production, intercity rail transit, water conservation, local/renewable energy generation, community outreach, cap-and-trade regimes, and green building standards).
Energy that comes from sources that are not depleted by use. Examples include energy from the sun, wind, and small (low-impact) hydropower, plus geothermal energy and wave and tidal systems.A term used for significant changes over an extended period of time in the Earth's natural environments. Climate change can be produced by natural processes (e.g. changes in the Earth's orbit) or by the impact of human behavior (e.g. deforestation). See GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE.The system of land, natural resources, and natural habitats that collectively comprise a community's underlying ecosystem. Green Infrastructure is present in every city, although its size, diversity, and strength vary greatly. Importantly, green infrastructure can be used to help offset negative environmental impacts, for example stormwater runoff and urban heat island effect.A term typically applied to real estate development projects that combine residential and commercial or retail components.The ability or potential of a physical body to do work. The most common forms of energy are heat, light, mechanical (moving parts), and electrical.
