According to a recent study by the Brookings Institution, St. Louis ranks 7th worst and Kansas City 17th worst among the 100 largest U.S. cities in average greenhouse gas emissions per resident.
The metro regions with the smallest carbon footprints were Honolulu, Los Angeles and Portland, Ore. Generally, the best performers have a few things in common: high-density, compact development and newer or expanded rail transit. . .
To a broad spectrum of civic and city leaders, both the new study and the coming local commitment show the growing need to address the environment to keep our quality of life competitive with that of other metro areas.
“When it comes to retaining and attracting young workers, one of the things they look for is a community committed to a sustainable environment,” said Peter Levi, president of the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce and a member of the climate protection committee. “They look for an environmentally friendly place to live.” . . .
The city’s climate protection steering committee, plus about 80 citizens helping it, has been meeting regularly for 1½ years. A draft plan was presented just this week to the steering committee and is expected to go to the City Council by early July. . . .
The plan includes hundreds of recommendations, including:
•Making streets more compatible for pedestrians and bicycles.
•Reducing vehicle miles traveled. The plan suggests working with businesses and organizations to commit to car sharing. It suggests implementing a pass program in which a company invests in transit passes and employees can use the passes to ride anywhere in the community.
