America's housing shortage is a major source of greenhouse-gas emissions, and the only way to reduce that is to encourage more home-building in less-car-dependent areas, researchers say.
A new report from the Real Estate Institute finds that by encouraging "better-located, less car-dependent communities," states can reduce annual US pollution by 70 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent by 2033.
That's "more climate impact than half the country adopting California's ambitious commitment to 100% zero-emission passenger vehicle sales by 2035," the researchers write.
About one-third of the pollution reduction would come from reduced vehicle manufacturing and upstream oil production, while the rest would come from preserving natural carbon sinks, reports the Los Angeles Times.
"The US carbon pollution problem requires much more efficient and equitable use of its urban and suburban land," the researchers write.
"This means, first and foremost, more housing production in less car-dependent places."
The report calls for policies such as eliminating minimum lot sizes, unit sizes, and setback requirements, legalizing accessory dwelling units, and deregulating parking.
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