Europe

Seattle, Washington

The City Beyond Amazon's ‘Great Return’

In GeekWire, Chuck Wolfe explains how, as the Amazon (and other) “Great Returns” to the office unfold, it's essential to dig deeper.

May 2, 2023 - GeekWire

Close-up of back of white electric Audi SUV plugged into charging station

When ‘Zero Emission Vehicles’ Aren’t

The growing popularity of large, heavy SUVS—and the energy needed to produce and operate them—could limit the environmental gains made by electric vehicles.

April 11, 2023 - Streetsblog USA

Young boy wearing yellow helmet riding a bicycle down a city street

France’s ‘Universal Cycling’ Program Teaches Schoolchildren How to Bike

The program aims to reach 800,000 French children by 2027.

April 4, 2023 - Next City

The public market at Warwick JUnction in Durban, South Africa is visible with the city ‘s high-rise buildings in the background.

6 International Models of Urban Revitalization

The New York Times recently published an article exploring six cities from around the world reinventing themselves for the 21st century: Paris, Sydney, Medellin, Lisbon, Singapore, and Durban.

April 3, 2023 - The New York Times

Trees

Planting More Trees to Protect and Save Lives

A new study estimates that more than a third of premature deaths from excessive heat can be prevented by planting more trees in cities.

February 20, 2023 - World Economic Forum

The exterior of a terminal at Orly Airport in France, with a large graphic that reads “Orly Change.”

Paris to Ban Short-Haul Flights to Reduce Emissions

The country of France has been cleared by the European Union to ban specific air travel routes from the Orly Airport near Paris.

December 21, 2022 - Yahoo News

Crowded Amsterdam street with pedestrians, cars, and church in background

How Rigorous Driver’s Education Contributes to Safer Roads

The arduous process for getting a driver’s license in Holland is one reason why that country’s roads are consistently safer than their U.S. counterparts.

December 7, 2022 - Streetsblog USA

Electric Scooters

Scooter-Share Company Tosses Financial Reports

Bird was counting money in customers’ digital “wallets” as revenue, and has admitted that financial statements from 2020 and 2021 “should no longer be relied upon.”

November 14, 2022 - The Verge

Solar panels shading cars in parking lot in Avignon, France

France Mandates Solar Panels Over Parking Lots Nationwide

By 2028, all French parking lots with more than 80 spots will have to be covered with solar panels, providing both shade and renewable energy.

November 11, 2022 - Jalopnik

Nederlandsche Bank building, Amsterdam

The Cradle-to-Cradle Approach to Building

The circular economy. Cradle-to-cradle. The regenerative economy. Whatever you call it, an approach to building that eliminates waste would transform the next generation of the built environment.

October 14, 2022 - The New York Times

Yellow gas pipeline with E.U. flag on one side and Russia flag on the other side

Vladimir Putin is Waging Two Wars in Europe

A hot war is being fought by Ukraine against Russia while the European Union is reeling from an energy war waged by Russian President Vladimir Putin in retaliation against economic sanctions placed on his nation for invading Ukraine.

September 15, 2022 - POLITICO Europe

Pandemic Bike Lanes

Europe Building a Post-Car Future

While the United States mobilizes to transition to electric cars, cities and countries in Europe are transitioning to fewer cars.

September 6, 2022 - Yahoo News

Chicago Commuter Rail

Alternative Railroad Electrification

Rather than building costly overhead electrification infrastructure to convert a Chicago-area commuter rail line from polluting diesel power to emission-free electricity, the Metra Board of Directors chose a far less expensive and quicker route.

August 28, 2022 - Metra

Four natural gas storage tanks with European Union flag logos

Rationing Energy

American motorists may complain about the 'pain at the pump,' but there is no shortage of gasoline, unlike the availability of natural gas in Europe.

August 7, 2022 - E&E News

Gas Pumps

Is $7 a Gallon for Gas on the Horizon?

Global oil prices may skyrocket when the European Union, which receives about one third of its oil from Russia, enacts a partial ban on importing Russian oil at the end of the year to stop financing Russia's war in Ukraine.

July 28, 2022 - The New York Times

Green roof in Rotterdam, The Netherlands

How Rotterdam’s Green Rooftops Fight Urban Heat

An elevated park in Rotterdam shows how green roofs can cool cities and create public parks in tight quarters.

June 5, 2022 - Surface Magazine

Liquid natural gas tanker in Klaipeda, Lithuania

Europe's New Energy Infrastructure Begins to Emerge

When Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin hoped to quickly redraw national boundary lines in Eastern Europe. The region's energy infrastructure, particularly pipelines carrying natural gas, may change sooner.

May 24, 2022 - POLITICO Europe

Moscow, Russia

Banning Russian Oil, Part II

Part I occurred when President Biden banned the importation of all Russian fossil fuels on March 8. A month later, Congress passed legislation to codify the embargo. Getting the European Union onboard is proving cumbersome.

May 12, 2022 - Politico

Environmentalism

Has the Rug Been Pulled Out From Under Environmentalists?

Robinson Meyer, a climate reporter for The Atlantic, writes about the awkward place American environmentalists find themselves due in part to the war in Europe that has created an international energy crisis and historically high fuel prices at home.

May 6, 2022 - The Atlantic

Gazprom building in St. Petersburg, Russia

Energy War Comes to the European Union

When President Putin ordered Gazprom to turn off the valve on pipelines carrying Russian gas to Poland and Bulgaria, he effectively expanded the Russia-Ukraine war to the European Union, threatening their economic well-being and way of life.

May 3, 2022 - The New York Times

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.

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.