Environment

Are 100-Mile Houses the Next Green Building Trend?

Taking a page from the locavore food movement, an architectural competition in Vancouver asks entrants to design a home using materials made or recycled within 100 miles of the city, writes Mark Boyer.

February 27, 2012 - Good

Fracking Ruling May Result In More Local Bans

In what may turn out to be a landmark ruling, the right of Dryden, a New York township adjacent to Cornell University to use its zoning code to ban the controversial drilling technique known fracking was upheld by the N.Y. State Supreme Court.

February 23, 2012 - Pro Publica

Mexico City Trash Pickers Fight for Their Livelihood

As city officials introduce plans to overhaul waste disposal in the capital of Mexico, a deeply rooted constituency fights back.

February 22, 2012 - New York Times

Is the Obama Administration Playing Politics With Environmental Rules?

As the campaign season nears, many of the sweeping environmental regulations that the Obama administration made headlines for enacting are being held up over concerns about their effect on the President's election campaign, Juliet Eilperin reports.

February 14, 2012 - The Washington Post

The Value of Urban Trees in Promoting Bird Diversity

A world first study explicitly demonstrates that large trees in urban parks are “keystone structures” that help provide important habitat and contribute to the richness, abundance and breeding of birds, reports Megan Doherty.

February 14, 2012 - The Canberra Times

Why the Politics of Climate Change Matter

Suzy Khimm reports on a new study that demonstrates politicians affect the way that Americans view the issue of climate change more than almost anything else, including news, weather, or science.

February 13, 2012 - The Washington Post

Why NASA's Spectacular Image of the Earth is So Disturbing

NASA's amazing high definition update of its infamous "Blue Marble" photograph of Earth is disturbing not for what can be seen, but for what cannot.

February 10, 2012 - Mother Jones

A Call For Regenerative Cities

Sustainability is not enough. Because so much damage has already been inflicted upon the world's ecosystems, Anna Leidreiter argues for the need for regenerative cities that positively enhance 'ecosystem services.'

February 1, 2012 - The Global Urbanist

Thinking About Sustainability on a Global Scale

In an opinion piece, noted economist Jeffrey Sachs explores what it will take to achieve the 'triple bottom line' of sustainable development, which the UN puts at the top of the global agenda.

February 1, 2012 - Project Syndicate

As New York Plants One Million Trees, Benefits—and Some Burdens—Grow

The city’s MillionTrees program fights asthma and global warming. But tightening maintenance budgets, increasingly severe weather and decades-old planting decisions complicate trees’ contribution.

February 1, 2012 - City Limits

California Moves Ahead With Streamlining of Envionmental Regulations

Last week, Gov. Jerry Brown announced reforms to the state's Environmental Quality Act that will ease approval for infill development and special projects. Josh Stephens provides the details.

January 30, 2012 - California Planning & Development Report

The Fallacy of Wetland Restoration

Sarah Laskow reports on new analysis indicating that in restored wetlands, plants, insects, and animals do not reach their former abundance, density or diversity.

January 24, 2012 - Good

Driving Species to Extinction

A new report highlights the threat posed to a wide range of species by the extraction of fossil fuels in the United States.

January 22, 2012 - CommonDreams

Freedom Bulbs and the Political Debate on Climate Change

In announcing a new initiative led by ULI and the Greenprint Foundation, Ed McMahon looks at the disconnect between politicians and the marketplace in the debate around climate change and U.S. energy policy.

January 21, 2012 - Urban Land

Nation's Largest Net-Zero Mixed Use Project Planned for Philadelphia

Branden Klayko reports on the pioneering project planned by innovative Philadelphia design-build developers Onion Flats.

January 20, 2012 - The Architect's Newspaper

Converting Excess to Energy in NYC?

Jarrett Murphy writes of a single but significant line in Mayor Bloomberg's recent State of the City address which offers a potential solution to the city’s intertwined fiscal, garbage and energy problems.

January 18, 2012 - Next American City

Bjarke Ingels' Architectural Response To 'Singularity'

Joerg Haentzschel interviews the young architect Bjarke Ingels. Through offices now established in Copenhagen and New York, Ingels is slowly pushing his 'pragmatic utopian architecture' into the mainstream.

January 16, 2012 - 032C

Simple, Inexpensive Measures Identified to Reduce Global Warming

A new study produced by an international team of scientists focuses on efforts to reduce the production of two shorter-term pollutants, rather than carbon dioxide, that drive climate change.

January 16, 2012 - The Washington Post

Your Prius Won't Save You

In his new book, The Conundrum, David Owen pierces the magical thinking that has repackaged high-end luxury goods, such as hybrid cars, as virtuous and the idea that we can consume our way out of trouble.

January 14, 2012 - Txchnologist.com

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.