Environment
Gulf Coast Ponders Future Amid Erosion and Destruction
As land continues to disappear along the Gulf Coast and hurricane damages increase, many are beginning to reconsider whether to rebuild or retreat.
Bailout Gives Tax Break to Bicycle Commuters
The $700 billion bailout bill includes federal tax benefits for people who commute by bike.
Noise Pollution in San Francisco is A Health Risk, Study Shows
A new study shows that noise pollution on the streets of San Francisco is putting nearly one in six residents at risk for heart disease, high blood pressure and other stress-related illnesses.
Vancouver's Garbage Woes May be Alleviated
A proposal to turn part of a 6,000-hectare copper mine into a landfill has just been given the green light for an environmental assessment. The garbage dump would bury 250,000 metric tons of garbage from 25 local communities annually.
Three Perspectives on CA's 'Smart Growth' Bill
The New York Times, San Francisco Chronicle, and Sacramento Bee editorialize on the signing of SB 375, California's new landmark law that is intended to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by reducing vehicle miles traveled through better land use.
Disparities of Going Green
In this article, Deneen Borelli argues that elite environmentalists are blocking access to natural resources that are abundant and in urgent need. As a result, higher costs of stricter energy requirements hit poor black communities the hardest.
Environmentalism Over Aesthetics
John Barber laments cities' tendency to (rightfully) favor environmental consciousness over aestheticism. Low-carbon street lighting is the latest eco-trend to retrofit, and potentially blight, the streets of Toronto.
New Jersey to Lead in Wind Power
By 2020, New Jersey will have tripled its wind energy use.
Prescribing a Healthy Future For Charlotte
Charlotte faces a number of challenges in the 21st century, from rising immigration to declining industry to sprawl. This Citistates Report suggests one strategy to harbor a healthy future: go green.
L.A. Facing Drought
Los Angelenos have long forgotten that they live in a desert, but the coming drought will mean water consumption patterns will need to change on a massive scale writes Scott Thill.
Climate Change Actually Is A Matter of Individual Choice
A new study finds that 65% of greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. are under the direct or indirect control of individuals. However, many of those habits are difficult to change given land uses.
Schwarzenegger Vetoes Port-Air Pollution Bill
CA Governor Schwarzenegger vetoed perhaps the most important air quality bill of the year just before the deadline to the dismay of the state's environmental and health community. Alaska Gov. Palin's letter asking for the veto may have played a role.
Fish as Private Property
David Bollier debunks the idea that the magic of 'private property' is saving fisheries from being overfished.
'Growing Water' Project Gets a Hand
The architecture studio that won The History Channel's City of the Future competition last year has gotten some help making its ideas possible.
Fairbanks' Emissions Exceed National Average
Greenhouse gas emissions in Fairbanks, Alaska are significantly higher than the national average, according to one report.
Emissions Study Comes to Cities' Defense
According to one study, cities are often wrongly blamed for 75 to 80% of greenhouse gas emissions; the figure is closer to 40%.
Carbon Tax: A Norwegian Case Study Since 1991
Norway's carbon emissions have increased 15% since imposing a carbon tax in 1991, unlike neighbor's Sweden and Denmark where emissions decreased with their carbon taxes. Unlike the oil industry which became carbon-lean, Norway's drivers didn't change
Building Ban to Protect Northwest Salmon
In an effort to protect endangered salmon in the Pacific Northwest, the National Marine Fisheries Service is calling for a building moratorium near rivers in the Puget Sound region.
Nature Gains Constitutional Rights in Ecuador
A new constitution has been approved in Ecuador, and among its amendments are specific articles that grant inalienable rights to nature.
BP's Chief Scientist Advocates Higher Gas Prices
BP's chief scientist provides his insight into solving the energy and climate crises, including the affect of higher gas prices and separating transportation from the heat and power sectors when dealing with strategies to reduce carbon emissions.
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
