Michael R. Boswell is Professor of City and Regional Planning at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. He teaches and conducts research in the areas of hazard mitigation, environmental policy, and climate action planning. He is also a former Planning Commissioner for the City of San Luis Obispo, California.
Climate change continues to impact our health and safety, the economy, and natural systems. With climate-related protections and programs under attack at the federal level, it is critical for cities to address climate impacts locally. Every day there are new examples of cities approaching the challenge of climate change in creative and innovative ways—from rethinking transportation, to greening city buildings, to protecting against sea-level rise.
Climate change is a global problem, but the problem begins locally. Cities consume 75% of the world's energy and emit 80% of the world's greenhouse gases. Changing the way we build and operate our cities can have major effects on greenhouse gas emissions. Fortunately, communities across the U.S.