The ground plan can be a key player in climate action. We argue for a prominent role of the ground plan in the urgent actions that are needed to combat climate change and its impacts, proposing a focus on responsible consumption patterns of land and energy. Land is a scarce resource. And yet, land consumption for urbanization processes has been losing efficiency over time. The denser ground plan types in Soundview, Bedford, East Village and Queensbridge demonstrate how we can do more with less resources. Indeed, the denser patterns of streets, street blocks, plots and buildings on the ground, support higher numbers of residents, workers and moving individuals. Energy consumption for buildings and transports is another crucial aspect in climate action. In the New York cases, buildings in the denser ground plan seem to consume less energy than similar buildings in the sparser ground plan. Furthermore, the specific urban landscapes of the denser ground plan tend to favour walking, contributing to rethinking the use of car and to lower consumption of energy for transports.