- By moving forward now to embrace smart growth principles growing toward a more sustainable future that emphasizes more compact, mixed use communities that support walking, biking and transit to reduce our need to drive, California could avoid between 55,000 and 132,000 tons of criteria air pollution compared with BAU planning in 2035.
- By choosing the path for smarter growth, in 2035, reductions in emissions could save California between $716 million and $1.66 billion in health costs from fewer pollution-related illnesses and deaths. There would be more than 132,000 tons of air pollution reduced and up to 140 premature deaths, 105,000 asthma attacks and other respiratory issues avoided.
- These savings should be viewed along with the cost savings in municipal infrastructure, road maintenance and household vehicle ownership and travel provided by smarter growth. California’s population growth will economically benefit from more compact communities with viable options for walking, biking and transit that reduce dependency on driving and polluting fuels.
