Environment

Opinion: To Protect Biodiversity, Eliminate All Leaf Blowers
Electric and battery-powered leaf blowers have a reduced impact on pollution and human health, but our lawn care practices continue to harm plant and animal habitats.

Rural Areas Left Behind in Climate Adaptation Plans
While resources pour in for urban climate resilience projects, smaller communities often bear the brunt of extreme weather events.

Affordable Housing: 'In the Direct Path of Climate Change'
Managers of affordable housing at the deadly northern end of Ida's path review what worked, what didn't, and what we might need to abandon altogether.

Report: How The U.S. Could Meet Its 2030 Climate Goals
If policymakers don't take clear, immediate action, emissions reductions will fall short of the 50-52 percent goal set in Paris.

What Is Conservation Development?
Conservation development combines the development of land with the protection of natural resources.

Cargo Bike Pilot Reduces Emissions by 30%
The program deployed electric cargo bikes in a small Seattle neighborhood to test the effectiveness of replacing delivery trucks with lighter vehicles in the last mile of delivery.

Monitoring the Effects of the Pandemic on Metros and Cities
Eugénie Birch discusses cities' and metros' recoveries from the COVID-19 pandemic.

California Governor Declares Statewide Drought Emergency
The declaration applies to all of California's 58 counties, with agencies and households urged to implement stricter conservation measures as the historic drought deepens.

How Albany Can Reclaim Its Waterfront From a Bad Highway
Finding full-scale highway removal nearly impossible, advocates in the New York state capital turn to creative workarounds to reconnect the city to the Hudson River.

Welcoming the First Climate Migrants to Duluth, and Preparing for More
While the data still shows many Americans moving toward climate risk, an increasing number have noted the obvious effects of climate change and decided to move toward fresh water and milder climates.

New Stormwater Resilience Measures Approved in Austin
The Austin City Council adopted the latest in a series of measures intended to improve the city's stormwater resilience after experiencing repeated flooding events in the past decade.

Visualizing the Effects of Sea Level Rise on U.S. Cities
A report from Climate Central calls for urgent action, illustrating the potential devastating impact of even a small rise in global temperature on the coastline of major cities.

Report: Southwest Drought a 'Preview of Coming Attractions'
A NOAA-led task force warns that the drought facing the western U.S. will continue well into 2022 or later without serious efforts to mitigate human-caused global warming.

How Global Cities Are Working to Electrify Transit
With the transportation sector accounting for a third of urban carbon emissions, cities around the world are seeking new ways to electrify their transit fleets and reduce fossil fuel consumption.
The Complexities of Park Access
Park access is not only about reducing travel distance to a park; it is a complex issue that requires a variety of creative solutions.

An Interview With Jacksonville's New Chief Resiliency Officer
The city of Jacksonville's new resiliency department will evaluate the city's long-term needs and coordinate with various stakeholders to implement systems adaptable to extreme climate events.

Intercity High-Speed Rail Outlasts Italy's National Airline
European countries are committing to making intercity rail the preferable option compared to domestic and intra-continental flights. The shift seems to be working in Italy.

How California's Wildfires Affect Home Sales and Values
Redfin data show slower home price growth in areas recently affected by wildfires, while developers rush in to rebuild.

FEMA Flood Insurance Updates Reflect Actual Risk to Each Home
Changes to how FEMA calculates flood risk will assess risk at a home-by-home level, rather than estimating the same risk to all homes in the same floodplain.

New Wildlife Bridge Coming to Los Angeles County
Construction of the $87-million wildlife crossing on the 101 Freeway in Agoura Hills will begin in 2022.
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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
Planetizen
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service