Environment
Mapping the Rapid Loss of America's Agricultural Land
Development continues to encroach on agricultural land around the United States. A new study shows exactly how much agricultural land has been developed.
Ranking the Best U.S. Cities for Parks
The 2018 ParkScore is now available.
EPA to Rescind Flammable Chemical Regulations Crafted After 2013 Explosion
A deadly explosion in West, Texas spurred the Obama administration to update regulations to the chemical industry.
How Best to Pay for Park, Wildlife, and Water Improvements
Only one of the five propositions on California's June primary ballot is a general obligation bond measure. Prop. 68 authorizes $4 billion for projects benefiting parks and water quality. Opponents prefer a pay-as-you-go approach using general funds.
No Opposition to California Proposition Promoting Stormwater Capture
Voters looking for a reason to vote against Prop 72, which provides a tax break for homeowners who install rainwater capture systems, won't find one. None were submitted. Proponents of measures for parks, climate, and transportation are not so lucky.
Mapping the Effects of Human Intervention on the Global Water Supply
Climate change is only part of the story, but humans have left a detectable footprint on the distribution of the global water supply.
Details of the Golden State's Residential Solar Requirement
San Francisco Chronicle energy reporter David R. Baker sheds some light on the nation's first state building code requiring that solar panels be included in new home construction, adopted by the California Energy Commission on May 9.
In Texas, More Sprawl Means More Homes in the Path of Tornadoes
Revisiting one day in 2012, a reporter finds that many of the Dallas-Fort Worth areas affected by the storms were barely inhabited 20 years ago.
Federal Judge Strikes Down Oakland's Ban on Coal Exports
Shipping coal from Utah to export to Asia through a new cargo facility in Oakland, California took a significant step forward on May 15 with a strongly worded ruling condemning the adequacy of the city of Oakland's environmental analysis.
Dallas Considers a Major Revision to its Tree Ordinance
Neither environmentalists nor developers like the city’s current regulations around tree removal, but there is praise on both sides for the “smart and nimble” new version.
A New 'City Health Dashboard' for 500 U.S. Cities
The new City Health Dashboard might be the first time many communities have had access to a treasure trove of public health data at the click of a mouse button.
Senate Bill Would Fund Climate Change Resilience in Coastal Communities
Grant and loan funding, new research, and a competition are some of the ideas included in the Coastal Communities Adaptation Act.
U.S. Recycling Markets in Free Fall After China Pulls Import Plug
China has stopped purchasing the recyclables that millions of Americans place curbside on recycling days, upending the industry. Recyclables are already directed toward landfills as domestic markets are sought. Berkeley, Calif. may go a novel route.
European Cities take EU Commission to Court over 'License to Pollute' Diesel Regulations
Mayors of Paris, Brussels, and Madrid fight for cleaner air for their citizens. Barcelona has not yet joined the plaintiffs.
Coal Power Plants to Retire Faster Under Trump
Coal plants will retire faster than analysts had figured under the Clean Power Plan, which the Trump administration is repealing, yet the Department of Energy proposes to make building new coal plants a centerpiece of its energy policy.
The Real Cost of Clean Water in One Kansas Town
Pretty Prairie has water with very high levels of nitrates, and lots of farmers that need to use nitrates if they want to keep the local economy going.
Defeating SB 827 Did Not Discourage the YIMBY Movement
Though the California housing bill was a high-profile failure for pro-development activists, there are initiatives all over the country that carry its spirit.
Campaign Launched to Electrify School Buses
U.S. PIRG wants states to use funding from multi-billion dollar Volkswagen settlements to convert the nation's school bus fleet, 95% of which is diesel-powered, to zero-emission buses to reduce children's exposure to toxic air pollution.
If You're Ignoring Transportation, You're Not Much of a Climate Mayor
Encouraging compact land use by allowing density, building near transit, and eliminating parking minimums can have a powerful effect on the emissions a city generates.
Cities as ‘Powerhouses of Evolution’
A new book on urban ecology shows how quickly wild species living in cities can adapt to their surroundings.
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
Planetizen
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service
