Environment

Toxic Algae Bloom

Algae Bloom Shutting Down Mississippi Beaches

The Gulf Coast is facing the environmental threat of algae blooms that cause rashes, stomach cramps, nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting.

July 9, 2019 - The Houston Chronicle

Pop-Up Park

The Surprising Benefit of Pop-Up Parks to Bio-Diversity

A new study finds that interim recreational use of underutilized sections of crowded cities can benefit more than just humans.

July 8, 2019 - Next City

Jack and Laura Dangermond Preserve

'Grim' Choices Facing California as the Pacific Ocean Rises

The Los Angeles Times published a massively ambitious account of the sea-level threat facing California.

July 8, 2019 - Los Angeles Times

Sequoia State Park

To Solve Climate Change: Plant a Trillion Trees

A new study suggests planting enough trees to cover a landmass the size of the United States.

July 8, 2019 - Associated press via WHYY

National Parks Service

Scarce National Park Fee Money Will Fund Today's 'Salute to America'

The Trump administration's lack of concern for the National Park Service's growing maintenance backlog will be on display today, along with everything else.

July 4, 2019 - The Washington Post

California Wildflowers

Where, and Why, Allergies Are Worst

Your senses (or lack thereof) aren't deceiving you. Some cities really are worse for seasonal allergies than others, and some of the reasons are entirely preventable.

July 3, 2019 - The Guardian

Air Travel

Air Quality Slips After Decades of Progress

Southern California has long been leader in air quality management, but lately the news has not been good.

July 3, 2019 - Los Angeles Times

Woodlands

The Search for Natural Silence

With more cars on roads and planes in the sky than ever before, finding truly noise-free places with pure natural sounds has become ever more challenging.

July 2, 2019 - KUOW (The Wild)

Gaslamp Quarter

Climate Crisis, Housing Crisis on a Collision Course

Sprawl might relieve the housing crisis, but it would also exacerbate the climate crisis. Tough choices will be necessary in regions like San Diego, where the question of where to accommodate growth is very much in question.

July 2, 2019 - The San Diego Union-Tribune

Kennebec River

20 Years of Dam Removal Projects

Dam removal has its benefits, according to the example set by a particularly historic dam removal in the United States, which took place on July 1, 1999.

July 2, 2019 - American Rivers

Portland, Oregon

What Went Wrong With Oregon's Climate Bill?

The Oregon Climate Action Program, which would have priced carbon emissions by establishing a cap-and-trade program similar to the one in California, was defeated on Saturday, the penultimate day of the 2019 legislative session.

July 2, 2019 - The Oregonian

Flood Damaged Suburb

More Detail on What Happened to 100 Resilient Cities

The Rockefeller Foundation has cited costs and a new strategic direction to explain why it abruptly cut off the program this year. While the work may live on in some form, the move underscores the risks of relying on private funding.

July 2, 2019 - CityLab

Empty Parking Garage

Op-Ed: 'Mammoth' New Parking Garages Belie Seattle's Green Talk

"Seattle is still a car town at heart," Danny Westneat writes, pointing to a number of gargantuan new parking garages like the 2,300-stall complex at Expedia's new headquarters.

July 1, 2019 - The Seattle Times

irishtown bend

Paddling the Cuyahoga River in Cleveland, 50 Years After in Burned

One of the great environmental success stories in the nation, manifested by the joy of paddling a river.

June 26, 2019 - Cleveland.com

New Jersey Power Plant

New Jersey to Price Carbon Emissions from Electricity Generation

When the N.J. Department of Environmental Protection adopted new rules for power plants on June 17, the Garden State becomes the tenth to participate in a cap-and-trade program known as the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.

June 26, 2019 - Utility Dive

Presidential Campaign

Urban Planning and the Democratic Debate Field

The Democratic Party will hold a two-day debate event, starting tonight. It's time to brush up on the positions of the leading candidates on policies and politics relate to housing, climate change, and infrastructure.

June 26, 2019 - James Brasuell

Wind

Nation's Largest Offshore Wind Farm Gets Green Light From New Jersey

There are still approvals necessary to get to the finish line, but the Ocean Wind offshore wind project took a big step forward late last week.

June 26, 2019 - NJ.com

Biology

Saving Habitat: Just as Much for Humans as for Everything Else

Edward O. Wilson, famed for pressing for the conservation of half of the planet's land and oceans, recently turned 90 years old.

June 25, 2019 - National Geographic

Climate CHange

Carbon Neutrality: What Does it Mean, and Is it Possible?

Are 'zero carbon' goals the most effective way to cut greenhouse gases, or are they the most politically feasible strategies? NPR climate and environment reporter, Nathan Rott, explores the challenge in an interview on All Things Considered.

June 24, 2019 - NPR

Mississippi River New Orleans

As the Mississippi River Rises, So Does the Threat to New Orleans

Climate change and channelization have made high water levels the norm along the river. But low-lying New Orleans lies in its path, and the consequences could be monumental.

June 23, 2019 - Slate

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.