Unsung Strategies for Sustainability
As we look for innovative approaches to reverse or slow the damage caused by greenhouse gas emmissions, it’s important to remember that strategies to address our most pressing environmental, economic, and social concerns are not always big, bold and glamorous. Tim Johnson, a professor of the practice of energy and the environment at Duke’s Nicholas School of the Environment, explains that, "sometimes, re-thinking the little stuff can yield big benefits." Zoning, for instance, can significantly increase urban density, which is correlated with a reduction in personal travel demand and improved access to walking, biking and other zero- or low-carbon modes of transportation. On a similar wavelength, efficient routing is just as important to reducing freight and package delivery firms' carbon emissions as investing in low- and zero-emission vehicles.
