World

Under the Kyoto Protocol, developed countries set targets for cutting carbon emissions relative to 1990 levels by 2012. As the globe gathers to discuss extending the expiring agreement, Duncan Clark examines its effectiveness.

November 27, 2012 - The Guardian

We all have our role models in life. Never are they more pivotal than in the visioning required for placemaking. Failing to have patterns that perform economically, socially, and environmentally is a critical mistake says Nathan Morris.

November 27, 2012 - PlaceShakers

Philip Bump contemplates a future in which Arctic Ocean trade routes give rise to thriving port cities dotting the northern coasts of North America and Eurasia alike.

November 24, 2012 - Grist

Eliot Brown examines the global trend in skinny skyscrapers, as developers take advantage of technological advances and fatter wallets at the high end of the housing market to deliver stellar views.

November 20, 2012 - The Wall Street Journal

Compared to Europe's high-speed rail, paved roads, and underground power lines, America lags behind with its unreliable trains, potholes, and overhead power lines. Uwe E. Reinhardt questions why Americans put up with the decaying infrastructure.

November 20, 2012 - The New York Times

Howard Schneider examines a recent study by the World Bank, issued as a call-to-action for the international community not merely to curb, but to plan for and mitigate the crises that a 4°C rise in global temperatures would bring.

November 20, 2012 - The Washington Post

Last month we came across an ingenious idea for making your sidewalk frustrations known to offending amblers, while sidestepping the dangers of verbal confrontation.

November 16, 2012 - Treehugger

We have completely redesigned and rebuilt the Planetizen website. Enjoy the new features, a fresh new look, and a streamlined mobile-friendly design that's optimized for your laptop, tablet, and smartphone.

November 15, 2012 - Abhijeet Chavan

Airbnb connects travelers from around the world to unique rentable spaces. With the recent launch of a "Neighborhoods" feature, Airbnb has the potential to redirect tourist spending to often overlooked areas.

November 15, 2012 - Fast Co.Exist

Hong Kong has supplanted New York atop Cushman & Wakefield's list of the ten most expensive shopping streets in the world. London's Bond Street fell out of the top ten due to Britain's weak economy.

November 15, 2012 - Business Insider

Confirming an earlier Dept. of Energy report, the International Energy Agency's World Energy Outlook indicates not only that U.S. oil production will surpass Saudi Arabia's by 2020, but that it will be a net exporter by 2030 - thanks to fracking.

November 14, 2012 - Bloomberg News

Now can you qualify, quantify, and index it? Hazel Borys would like you to do so, and gives this data review to help you get started.

November 13, 2012 - PlaceShakers

A new interactive app produced by the Harvard Graduate School of Design (GSD) and Second Story Interactive Studios compiles and exhibits examples of "alternative and radical approaches to sustainability at a range of urban scales."

November 12, 2012 - Architizer

As part of Bloomberg BusinessWeek's "Fix This" city planning series, the World Bank's Daniel Hoornweg considers how cities can often be a reflection of the cultural and institutional personalities of their citizens.

November 12, 2012 - Bloomberg BusinessWeek

After years of climate change denial by conservatives and muzzling by liberals, Superstorm Sandy made abundantly clear the economic costs of inaction. Will that be enough to spur political action?

November 10, 2012 - The New York Times

Across the strait from Singapore, Iskandar Malaysia is being planned as the world’s next eco mega-city. Its architects and developers hope it will offer an alternative to Asia's polluted cities and a glimpse of the future of urban living.

November 10, 2012 - The Guardian

A new exhibit that opened this week at the San Francisco Planning and Urban Research Association's gallery explores the 10 diagrams that have had a monumental influence on urban planning, and the possibilities inherent in the medium.

November 9, 2012 - The Atlantic Cities

Sophie Landrin looks at the global rise in the use of cable cars - the kind you find on a ski lift and not on the streets of San Francisco - as a transportation alternative. Several French cities are developing plans to become "wired".

November 9, 2012 - The Guardian

As an increasing percentage of the world's population, and economic assets, confront the threats of climate change, the aftermath of Sandy provides an opportunity for New York to set a global example for building stronger, smarter cities.

November 7, 2012 - New York Daily News

A recent study documents the shift from large-scale units of production to smaller mass-produced units that can be dispersed across many locations. This shift promises to change a host of industries, from transportation to power generation.

November 7, 2012 - Science Daily