The International Energy Agency has released A Tale of Renewed Cities as part of its Policy Pathways  series.  This report was inspired by the fact that 20% of the world’s energy is consumed for transportation, and that 20% of that energy is consumed for urban transport systems. While urban transit is an essential element for actualizing the benefits of smart growth, those systems still consume considerable amounts of energy. This report focuses on not only the technological fixes needed for more energy efficient urban transportation systems, but also on the imperative of policies that result in travel even by relatively efficient urban transit to be avoided altogether. This points to the need for planning that focuses expressly on walking and cycling modes of transportation, and realizing options available for telecommuting and the avoidance of travel of any sort!

Check out A Tale of Renewed Cities