Environment

Surprise: Department of Justice Fights for an Expanded National Monument in Oregon
The U.S. Department of Justice is fighting a lawsuit that would overturn a decision by the Obama Administration to expand the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument in Southern Oregon.

California Awards $2.7 Billion to Water Storage Facilities
The California Water Commission made an historic commitment to new water storage projects. Many of the largest projects planned in the state will require additional funding before construction can commence.

A Map of 'Smoke Events' Around the World
Fire season is back, and it's not safe to breathe in huge swaths of the world.

30 Years of Climate Change Proof
It's been 30 years since James Hansen told Congress about global warming. We might call it climate change these days, but Hansen was right.

Carbon Offsets for Suburban Developments? The Courts Could Decide
The county of San Diego wants sprawling suburban developments to buy carbon offsets, billing the idea as a fix to the region's housing affordability crisis.

Another Major Climate Win for Big Oil in Federal Court
A New York federal district court rules on a climate change lawsuit like its West Coast counterpart did last month: Don't hold oil companies accountable for climate change and sea level rise. Baltimore and Rhode Island file climate change lawsuits.

Reducing Cities' Carbon Footprints
There is more than one way for a city to systematically reduce it carbon footprint.

Honolulu Mayor Tells All City Departments to Prepare for Sea Level Rise
The city of Honolulu has decided to treat sea level rise as an urgent matter, requiring all the resources of the city.

Los Angeles (and Climate Change) Seriously Threaten Air Quality at Mono Lake
With water levels habitually low, officials from the Eastern Sierra say they are "headed for a showdown” with L.A.

Welcome to 'Peak Water'
Water managers all over the country are bracing for expected water shortages.

Environmental Justice Area Expanded to Cover a Third of Pennsylvania's Population
More residents in the state will be protected by environmental regulations enforced by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.

California Achieved its Climate Goal; Now the Hard Part Begins
New York Times climate reporter, Brad Plumer, comments on California's landmark accomplishment in reducing emissions, observing that with the low-hanging electricity generation fruit picked, reducing transportation emissions will prove formidable.

Voters to Decide on Repair of Vital Aqueduct for San Joaquin Valley
California voters in November will have the opportunity to help repair the Friant-Kern Canal, damaged by subsidence, as well as invest in watershed conservation programs, by passing a citizen-initiated $8.9 billion general obligation bond measure.

'Not In Our Backyard': Septic to Compost Conversion Plan Hits Local Opposition Snag
A proposal for a facility that converts septic waste to compost will have to find another home, after a decision in Linn County, Iowa.

Renewable Goals: Set the Bar Low or Shoot for Stars?
A columnist says Pittsburgh's goal to run its government entirely on renewable energy by 2030 is like Trump's Wall: Not gonna happen.

New York City Reports Progress on Sustainable Development Goals to the U.N.
New York is the first city in the world to report to the U.N. on SDGs in the arenas of clean water and sanitation, affordable and clean energy, sustainable cities and communities, responsible consumption and production, and land conservation.

How to Keep Billions of Gallons of Sewage Out of a Waterway
The Anacostia River Tunnel is just one component of DC Water's Clean River Project, but it's already making a huge difference.

5 Industries That Made the Most of Pruitt While He Lasted
Umair Irfan provides a post-mortem, of sorts, on the tenure of Scott Pruitt at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Los Angeles Express Lane Revenue to Fund Electric Double-Decker Buses
Solo drivers who paid a variable toll to use the 10 and 110 freeways in Los Angeles provided $1.4 million to assist in the purchase of the nation's first electric double-decker buses, to be operated by Foothill Transit

Study: Air Pollution From Cars and Trucks Causes Diabetes
A new study builds an even stronger case for setting pollution controls at PM 2.5 to prevent increased risk of diabetes. The EPA's clean air regulations set a threshold much less restrictive than that level.
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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.
EMC Planning Group, Inc.
Planetizen
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Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service