Picture attributed to mobilityandthecity.com

A recent report by the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy concluded that cleaner, more efficient urban transit systems could cut global carbon emissions in half by 2050. Doing so would be key in combatting climate change, and would also save economies more than $100 trillion dollars. Green cities are healthy cities.

The report found that transportation, by means of motor vehicles, is the fastest driver of growth in carbon emissions globally. Inaction will adversely affect economic growth and contribute significantly to climate change. The alternative to investing in more effective modes of urban transit is investing in more road construction, which will encourage greater use of cars, resulting in traffic jams and congestions. Consequently, people will spend more time getting to work and less time being productive. Not to mention, the mental stress as a result traffic congestion takes a toll on productivity throughout a…