Which statement best defines sustainable urban planning and which two strategies are commonly used?

• A. Planning that meets present needs at any cost; strategies include expanding highways and private parks.
• B. Planning that prioritizes economic growth over resource use; strategies include deregulation and tax cuts.
• C. Planning that meets current needs without compromising future generations; strategies include expanding public transit and increasing green spaces.
• D. Planning that relies on rural development; strategies include building more suburbs and increasing car use.

Answer: (C)

Sustainable urban planning means designing cities so current needs are met without compromising the ability of future generations to meet theirs, balancing environmental protection, social equity, and economic viability. The statement uses that definition and pairs it with two widely used strategies: expanding public transit and increasing green spaces. Expanding public transit reduces car dependence, cuts pollution, and makes urban life more affordable and accessible for everyone. Increasing green spaces improves air quality, supports biodiversity, helps with heat and flood resilience, and enhances residents’ health and well-being.

The other options don’t fit this approach: planning “at any cost” ignores long-term environmental and social impacts; prioritizing economic growth over resource use can ignore environmental limits; and promoting sprawling development with more suburbs and car use tends to worsen congestion, emissions, and inequity.