State Actions on Climate Change: A Focus on How Our Communities Grow

This report by the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) analyzes how state climate action plans in the United States incorporate land use, transportation, and green building policies as of July 2009. It finds that while transportation and green building are common, specific 'smart growth' land use practices are the least frequent component of these plans.

• As of July 2009, 37 states were implementing a state climate action plan, and 42 of the 50 states had taken formal steps to address climate change through either a statewide plan or a regional agreement.
• Among the three primary areas analyzed—transportation, green building, and land use/smart growth—transportation practices were the most dominant in state action plans, followed by green building policies. Smart growth practices were the least likely to be included.
• California is identified as a leader in progressive environmental policy and climate change action, implementing legislation that specifically targets land use and transportation. This includes SB 375, which requires 18 metropolitan planning organizations to align transportation, housing, and regional land-use plans with greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions.
• Common transportation policies across state plans include the adoption of California's vehicle emissions standards, the creation of more mass transit options, and the use of incentives to reduce commuter vehicle miles traveled (VMT).
• Green building policies in state plans frequently focus on strengthening building codes and appliance standards, as well as providing financial incentives for consumers to use energy-efficient materials.
• Several regional collaborations exist to address climate change, including the Western Climate Initiative (WCI), the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), the New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers (NEG/ECP), and the Midwestern Regional Greenhouse Gas Reduction Accord (MRGGRA).

APA

Sauer, A., & Johnston, M. (2009). State Actions on Climate Change: A Focus on How Our Communities Grow. Environmental and Energy Study Institute. https://www.eesi.org/files/100709_state_plans_issuebrief.pdf

Chicago

Sauer, Amy, and Matt Johnston. State Actions on Climate Change: A Focus on How Our Communities Grow. Environmental and Energy Study Institute, 2009. https://www.eesi.org/files/100709_state_plans_issuebrief.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Sauer |first1=Amy |last2=Johnston |first2=Matt |title=State Actions on Climate Change: A Focus on How Our Communities Grow |publisher=Environmental and Energy Study Institute |date=October 2009 |url=https://www.eesi.org/files/100709_state_plans_issuebrief.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{sauer2009state, author = {Sauer, Amy and Johnston, Matt}, title = {{State Actions on Climate Change: A Focus on How Our Communities Grow}}, institution = {Environmental and Energy Study Institute}, year = {2009}, month = oct, url = {https://www.eesi.org/files/100709_state_plans_issuebrief.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }