Economic Activity, Urban Form and Chemical Emissions

3 Economic Activity, Urban Form and Chemical Emissions 

The literature does suggest that dense urban form provides opportunities to reduce per capita emissions. The opportunity arises because, for example, (1) lower material and energy inputs for infrastmcture are necessary to support each resident than with low-density development (hence a lower per capita stock of building materials and their associated emissions), (2) transportation-related emissions can be reduced by the provision of affordable mass transit (mass transit for low-density developments is difficult to finance) and (3) centralized waste management and treatment also becomes more economically efficient and feasible. 

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