Wednesday, January 31, 2007
GREEN STATE Via Brad DeLong, we get this paen to New York City:
Millions of Americans proclaimed their love of nature by moving to leafy suburbs while denigrating New Yorkers for living in the most man-made of places...Now we know that the suburban environmentalists had it backwards. Manhattan, not suburbia, is the real friend of the environment.
[...]
New York's biggest environmental contribution lies in the fact that less than one-third of New Yorkers drive to work. Nationwide, more than seven out of eight commuters drive. More than one-third of all the public transportation commuters in America live in the five boroughs...
The Department of Energy data confirm that New York State's energy consumption is next to last in the country because of New York City.
Is there any reason beyond civic pride to care that New Yorkers are true friends of the environment? I think so. Environmental benefits are one of the many good reasons that New York should grow. When Manhattan builds up, instead of Las Vegas building out, we are saving gas and protecting land.
Every new skyscraper in Manhattan is a strike against global warming. Every new residential high rise means a few less barrels of oil bought from less than friendly nations belonging to the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries.
