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Climate Change, Consumption, And Cities, Alice Kaswan

Alice Kaswan

In this article, Professor Kaswan argues that hoped-for greenhouse gas reductions cannot be achieved without reducing consumption. Given their control over land use and buildings, cities can play a key role in reducing consumption. She argues that, while existing federal proposals for a market-based approach could indirectly create incentives that would reduce emissions from transportation and buildings, the invisible hand of the market will not suffice. Nor can the federal government succeed alone. Local and regional governments could play a key practical and institutional role, and many have already initiated greenhouse gas reduction efforts.

Local governments are, however, unlikely to …