Climate Change

U.K. Solar Trains to Embark in August
South Western Railway will be using its own solar panels to directly supply power to trains and partially eliminate its need for outside power.

California Faces Costly Measures in Preparing for Future Wildfires
In California, recovery after wildfires means many upfront investments by communities and the state.

Satirizing Mayors Who Campaign for President During a Flood
The Onion took some shots at presidential hopeful and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio after summer rain showers flooded streets and sent water cascading into the city's subway system.

California City Bans the Words 'Managed Retreat' While Wrestling With Sea-Level Rise
Politicians in California are trying to plan for a rising sea, but some have stopped using the phrase “managed retreat” because they feel it derails the process.
A Climate Change Preview Underway in Michigan
Water is encroaching on neighborhoods and shorelines in Detroit at rare levels. Those impacts and many more are considered only a preview of what's to come when the worst effects of climate change strike the Great Lakes region.

Report Makes Business Case for Vancouver-to-Portland High Speed Rail
Washington State released a report detailing the business case for connecting Seattle to Portland and Vancouver by high-speed rail.

A 20-Year To-Do List for Cities
Predicting the future of challenges facing cities isn't very hard when the future is already staring cities right in the face.

As Extreme Weather Becomes More Common, Dams Become More Vulnerable
There are more than 90,000s dams in the U.S.; many will never be visited by federal or state inspectors.

Op-Ed: Lakewood's Growth Cap Is 'Climate Arson'
In a scathing response to arguments in favor of a "slow growth" ordinance in Lakewood, Colorado, Mike Eliason rebukes the idea that capping growth is a green policy.

Funding Research of Atmospheric Rivers to Better Prepare for Heavy Rains
Atmospheric river seems like a phrase that has only recently entered the parlance of the times, but the state of California has seen enough of the idea in action want to know more, and prepare for more.

King County Selling Carbon Credits to Fund Forest Preservation
Two companies so far have purchased carbon credits through the newly public program in Washington State's King County.

A 'Green New Deal' for Seattle
The city of Seattle has taken the first steps toward creating a "Green New Deal." Now comes the hard part of deciding on specific policies.

How the Law Enshrines Car Dependence
Land use regulations provide exhibit A in this indictment of the American legal system's support for a murderous and destructive dependence on automobiles for transportation.

To Solve Climate Change: Plant a Trillion Trees
A new study suggests planting enough trees to cover a landmass the size of the United States.

All the Places Mentioned in Last Week's Democratic Debates
Candidates drop names for a reason.

Climate Crisis, Housing Crisis on a Collision Course
Sprawl might relieve the housing crisis, but it would also exacerbate the climate crisis. Tough choices will be necessary in regions like San Diego, where the question of where to accommodate growth is very much in question.

More Detail on What Happened to 100 Resilient Cities
The Rockefeller Foundation has cited costs and a new strategic direction to explain why it abruptly cut off the program this year. While the work may live on in some form, the move underscores the risks of relying on private funding.

Urban Planning and the Democratic Debate Field
The Democratic Party will hold a two-day debate event, starting tonight. It's time to brush up on the positions of the leading candidates on policies and politics relate to housing, climate change, and infrastructure.

As Sea Levels Rise, Some Cities Will Be Saved While Others Will Be Left Behind
U.S. coastal cities need to prepare for the effects of climate change, but the pot of funding is limited. There’s no way around the fact that there will be winners and there will be losers.

Boston’s Seaport District, Where Building Started Before Flood Preparation
The Boston waterfront has been booming, but the area is extremely vulnerable to climate change and rising sea levels. Measures to address those risks have come just recently.
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