Urban Planning and Public Policy for Climate Change Mitigation

Climate change is a multidimensional observable fact and is regarded as one of the greatest challenge human society is facing in the 21st century. Debates on climate change advocate that cities not only contribute to climate change but also play a vital role in addressing climate change. Most planners consent that there is a significant link between urban form and Carbon-di-oxide emissions thereby agree that by integrating climate change mitigation policies in local level urban planning cities will have an ability to mitigate climate change. Specifically this research investigates whether urban planning policies in master plans target Carbon-di-oxide emission reduction and identifies what is the impact of those policies on local Carbon-di-oxide emissions? This research undertakes a qualitative content analysis of the policy framework of master plans that are involved in the sample. Later using the developed indexes the research examines the impact of urban planning policies on Carbon-di-oxide emissions. This research has an implication for mainstreaming climate change in urban planning thereby promote planners to integrate climate change mitigation policies in urban planning