Environment

How About a 'Climate Change National Park'?
One of the nuggets included in the Regional Plan Association's Forth Plan, released in late 2017, is a proposal to create a national park out of the New Jersey Meadowlands.

Seattle Looking for Better Tree Protections
Advocates and politicians are mustering ideas and support for new tree ordinances that line up with the city's climate goals.

How Urban Planning Is Changing in the 21st Century
Thanks to innovative advancements in permeable pavements and vertical farming, modern urban planning takes an action-oriented approach that retains its traditional focus of meeting residential needs.

Infrastructure, Unlike the Trump Administration, Can't Ignore Climate Change
How can President Trump, who has made environmental regulation rollbacks and climate denial trademarks of his administration, be expected to select projects for his infrastructure plan that must weather climate change?

It's Rural vs. Urban in Kentucky's Anti-Solar Energy Bill
A bill that would cut back on the feed-in tariffs paid by utilities to solar panel owners in Kentucky.

Bay Area Design Challenge Takes On Sea Level Rise
For the next several months, nine sites will be the focus of efforts to design for resilience as sea levels rise. Proposals involve "threading nature back into an urbanized terrain."

Mapping the Collision Course of Sprawl and Biodiversity
The expansion of the built environment proceeds with little regard for the loss of biodiversity, and the planning field isn't doing enough to help.

When the U.S. Economy Is 'Too Strong' to Spend on Infrastructure
A low unemployment rate means major investments by the federal government could ultimately harm the economy.

State Legislation Would Clear CEQA Obstructions for Road and Transit Projects
One legislator believes CEQA "is a key barrier to California meeting its ambitious climate change goals.”

U.S. Bank Stadium: Home to Super Bowl LII and a Death Trap for Migratory Birds
This isn't a joke about the Philadelphia Eagles. This story is about the deadly consequences of planning and architecture decisions.

Federal Plan for Renewable Energy Development in the California Desert on Trump's Cutting Board
The issue of wind and solar energy development has always been a hot button in the California desert, and the Trump Administration just pressed it.

Map of U.K. Development Types Reveals Wide Open Spaces
Satellite images make some of the best maps.

Rental Cars Will Be 100% Electric by 2030 in Spain's Balearic Islands
The government of the Balearic Islands drafts new law that requires rental car companies to phase out fossil fuel vehicles and to switch to a 100% electric fleet by 2030.

Homeland Security Waives More Than 30 Laws to Expedite Border Wall
In the drive to begin construction in New Mexico, the Trump Administration has bypassed dozens of federal environmental regulations.

U.S. EPA Ends the Obama-Era Clean Water Rule
The Trump Administration is rescinding another in a string of environmental regulations from the Obama Administration—this time it's the Clean Water Rule's protections for streams and waterways.
State of the Union: The Major Policy President Trump Missed
No, this post is not about the Russia investigation nor #MeToo, but the state of climate policy in the U.S. after President Trump's first year. Surprisingly, it's not as bad as one might think, no thanks to Trump though.
Smart and Beautiful Paths to Sustainability
In a beautiful and inspiring new book, "S.M.A.R.T. – Paths to Sustainability" 34 artists and authors from five continents give their views on aspects of sustainable development.

Pollution Does Discriminate in Orlando’s Parramore Neighborhood
Poor air quality has decimated the health of residents in this predominantly black community ringed by highways.

NIMBYs, but for Rats
Neighborhood groups around Detroit are taking the city's rat problem into their owns hands.

'America’s First Climate Refugees' Are Still on the Island
The 99 residents of Isle de Jean Charles have $48 million to relocate together, but that doesn’t make it easy.
Pagination
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