Environment

Portland Bike

Carbon Emissions Climb 'Dramatically' in Portland

Even a city with a sterling reputation for multi-modal transportation planning isn't making progress in removing carbon emissions from the local economy.

September 23, 2019 - BikePortland

Electric Car Charging Station

Did the Outlook for Electric Vehicle Sales in U.S. Just Nosedive?

With the formal announcement by the EPA and the U.S. DOT on Thursday that the "One National Standard" rule has been issued, California's zero-emission standard, which applies to ten other states, is essentially on hold.

September 21, 2019 - InsideClimate News

Robert F. Kennedy Bridge

New York Resilience Plan to Get Second Opinion

The price tag for the de Blasio administration’s stormwater and sea-level rise plan rose $1.3 billion after some costly additions. Now some city council members are bringing in a second group to examine the plan.

September 21, 2019 - Crain's New York Business

Cats

A First-Even Feral Cat Count in Toronto

The number of feral cats in Toronto is declining, which is a good thing for the cats.

September 21, 2019 - CBC

Las Vegas and Environs

Las Vegas Faces a Challenging and Uncertain Environmental Future

Excessive heat will impact the desert city in the coming years, and major steps need to be taken now to change its course.

September 19, 2019 - The Guardian

California

California's Ability to Set Auto Emissions Standards to Be Revoked

The announcement was made Wednesday morning in a series of tweets by President Trump while raising cash from willing donors at several fundraisers in California. The formal announcement from EPA and DOT is set for Thursday.

September 19, 2019 - San Francisco Chronicle

SFO

As the Waters Rise Toward San Francisco International Airport, So Do the Costs of Staying Dry

San Francisco International Airport lies on 5,171-acres of land on eight miles of shoreline along the west side of the San Francisco Bay. Protecting the property from sea-level rise is becoming a more challenging, and expensive, task.

September 18, 2019 - San Francisco Chronicle

San Luis Valley, Colorado

Imported Water Needed to Fuel Colorado Sprawl

An old-fashioned story of wealthy developers coming for the water supply of low-income farming communities is being reprised in Colorado.

September 18, 2019 - The Denver Post

recycled water sign

U.S. EPA Report Assists the Water Reuse Cause

A new plan released by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency provides technical and strategic assistance for the implementation of water reuse infrastructure around the United States.

September 17, 2019 - WaterNewsNetwork

Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta

Environmental Law, Resistance to Trump Administration Splits California Democrats

California has made a practice of resisting changes to environmental regulations pursued by the Trump administration, but the latest legislative effort to protect the state's waterways was a bridge too far for the governor.

September 17, 2019 - Sacramento Bee

Arctic National Wildlife Refuge

28.3 Million Acres of Public Land at Risk in Alaska

The Trump administration is working on multiple fronts to liquidate public land in Alaska as the state struggles to balance its budget.

September 16, 2019 - Center for American Progress

Electric Cars

Consumer Group Accuses States of 'Punishing' Electric Vehicle Drivers

The advocacy division of Consumer Reports published a study to highlight the practice of what could soon be a majority of state governments: charging electric vehicle owners an additional registration fee to compensate for forgone fuel tax revenue.

September 16, 2019 - Consumer Reports

Cedar Rapids Floods

The Great Flood of 2019, Visualized

The New York Times has published a spectacular mapping and data project to show the extent of flooding along the Mississippi River and its tributaries in the winter, spring, and summer of 2019.

September 16, 2019 - The New York Times

Echo Park

L.A. Unveils Plans for Historic Water Infrastructure Tax

Katy Young Yaroslavsky discusses the the Measure W Implementation Ordinance and the committee appointees tasked with determining how this new funding will flow into community water projects.

September 15, 2019 - The Planning Report

Air Conditioner

The High Cost of Cool Air

Air conditioning has drastically changed modern life and the ways cities have developed. But, the environmental consequences are immense, and it’s time to cut back.

September 14, 2019 - The Guardian

Morrison Spring, Walton County, Florida

Trump Administration Rolls Back Clean Water Protections

Environmentalists worry that the latest action by the Trump administration on the environment will set a dangerous precedent that is difficult to overturn with a more conservative Supreme Court.

September 13, 2019 - The New York Times

Swimming Hole

Friday Eye Candy: A Love Song for Swimming Holes

There's still technically some time left in the summer of 2019 to enjoy a dip, or a frolic, in a swimming hole.

September 13, 2019 - The New York Times

Mississippi River

All New Commercial Developments Require Porous Pavement in New Orleans

After the challenges of a rainy season with persistent flooding last year, New Orleans is ensuring that the future of its development is more stormwater friendly than its past.

September 13, 2019 - NOLA.com

Patapsco River

Dam Removal Complete on Maryland's Patapasco River

The Bloede Dam was the most downstream of a series of three dams on the Patapsco River in the Patapsco Valley State Park in Maryland. Now all three dams have been removed, concluding with the Bloede Dam, and the river runs free.

September 13, 2019 - American Rivers

Outdoor Recreation

Increased Outdoor Recreation Comes at a Cost

The rapidly declining number of elk around Vail, Colorado reveals the impacts of the increasing population of outdoor recreation.

September 12, 2019 - The Guardian

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.