Environment

For the Birds: Why Designing for Birds is Good for Everyone
A new book spotlights how bird-friendly design makes for healthier and more pleasant cities for all species.

Cities' Self-Reported Emissions Numbers are Way Off, Study Finds
New research shows that the voluntary emissions measurements conducted by many cities vastly undercount their greenhouse gas production.

Seattle Limits Natural Gas in New Construction
More cities are banning the use of natural gas in new buildings. Seattle is the latest example.

How Far, How Fast, Will Electric Car Policies Go?
The federal government, and even some automakers, seemed poised to nudge the country toward a future of electric vehicles. But the American preference for large trucks will be an obstacle to those plans.

An Environmental Justice Agenda for 2021
Michael Méndez, assistant professor in the Department of Urban Planning and Public Policy at the University of California, Irvine opines on California's continued struggle to implement ambitious climate goals.

Paradise Was Prepared for the Camp Fire, Report Says. It Wasn't Enough.
Sobering findings from a thorough examination of the causes of the 2018 Camp Fire.

New Climate Leadership in Transportation at the California Assembly
California Assembly Transportation Committee Chair Laura Friedman shares policy priorities for reducing emissions, eliminating traffic fatalities, and improving the connectivity of urban regional light rail in Southern California.

Biden's Climate Plan Centers Environmental Justice
The Biden administration's climate plan calls for sweeping reform in the country's energy policy and places new focus on addressing racial and economic disparities.

The Importance of Regional Parks
Regional parks like Whittier Narrows Recreation Area in Southern California offers something for everyone and are more important than ever in the midst of a pandemic.

Thank Indigenous Activists for the Keystone XL Pipeline's Demise
President Biden's executive order may put the final nail in the coffin of the controversial pipeline project, but it was unwavering local activists who kept the pressure on for a decade.

2020 Was a Landmark Year for Climate Change
Many companies set goals to achieve by 2020 and came up short, while the effects of climate change were more obvious than ever in the year that was 2020.

Notes on the Buttigieg Confirmation Hearing
Takeaways from last week's Senate confirmation hearing for the nominee to be secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation, Pete Buttigieg.

Biden Administration Rules Out Gas Tax Hike
Shortly after Transportation secretary-nominee Pete Buttigieg told a Senate committee that all options were on the table to pay for federal transportation investment, a spokesperson ruled out a gas tax hike.

Planning Trends to Watch in 2021
The nation is now tasked with the challenge of changing course in the middle of multiple, global crises. The necessity of finding a way to overcome the failures of the past and lay the groundwork for a new kind of future has never been more clear.

Hug a Tree. Protect a Forest.
Communities have good reasons to protect trees and forests. Planners can help make this happen.

Parking Induces Driving, Study Says
New research published in the Urban Studies journal does the difficult work of connecting the dots between parking and driving.

GM 'Aspires' to Carbon Neutrality by 2040
General Motors announced this week intentions to replace gas combustion engines with electric vehicles and carbon offsets in under two decades.

Court's Rejection of Trump EPA Rule Clears Slate for Emissions Regulation
A D.C. circuit court struck down a rule that limited the agency's regulatory reach to emissions "at the source" in the power sector.

Get Outdoors: 10,000 Miles of National Park Trails Restored
A three-year project to restore access to 10,000 miles of national park trails has been completed through a collaboration between the National Park Foundation and food company Nature Valley.

Detroit's Unique Climate Challenges
As climate change intensifies, Detroit could see more devastating floods and deadlier heat waves.
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