Integrating Land Use and Transport for Energy Efficiency: Enabling Urban Transformation and Combating Environmental Pollution

Land use and transport are crucial to urban transformation and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). However, these sectors significantly contribute to environmental issues due to high energy consumption and CO₂ emissions. This research explores land use and transport integration in Lahore, Pakistan—a rapidly urbanizing city with rising energy demands and severe air pollution. Lahore’s air quality index (AQI) has reached critical levels, with PM2.5 concentrations exceeding WHO guidelines by over 50 times, highlighting the urgency for intervention. The study evaluates the impact of land use and transport integration on energy efficiency and CO₂ emissions along Lahore’s Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridor while assessing Transit-Oriented Development’s (TOD) potential in South Asian cities. Findings indicate significant energy use variations across BRT stations, with central stations like Kalma Chowk featuring mixed-use zoning exhibiting lower energy consumption and emissions. Conversely, peripheral stations like Gajjumata show higher transport-related energy use, underscoring the need for better connectivity and mixed-use development. Stakeholder interviews highlight TOD’s recognized benefits but also reveal challenges such as fragmented regulations, financial constraints, and resistance to lifestyle changes. The study underscores TOD’s role in fostering compact, energy-efficient urban development, aligning with global research while addressing Lahore’s unique challenges. It provides valuable insights for policymakers and urban planners, advocating for stronger sectoral coordination, better land use enforcement, and a shift towards sustainable transport and energy efficiency. Strengthening TOD principles can help Lahore transition towards a sustainable, low-carbon future, serving as a model for other fast-growing South Asian cities.