Meghan Stromberg reports on the opening keynote from this year's annual APA national conference, taking place in Los Angeles through April 17th. Dr. Andrew Weaver spoke about the disconnect between climate change science and public perception.
One of the lead authors of the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's landmark report Climate Change 2007: The Physical Science Basis, Dr. Weaver spoke about the overwhelming scientific consensus behind the human impacts on climate change and divergent public perception of the problem and its causes.
He attributes this disconnect to both "how scientists communicate - including using jargon and failing to present complex issues in a way that nonscientists can understand - and how the media present these issues," writes Stromberg.
"The media, he said, employ sensationalist headlines and cite experts who lack true scientific credentials. Most egregiously, the media distort the facts in the name of providing the appearance of balanced reporting. In doing so, they give disproportionate time and voice to the small group of people who doubt the existence of climate change or the evidence that increased greenhouse gas emissions are the cause."
While the current commitments of the world's nations for reducing emissions by 2050 appear inadequate to head off the 2 degree Celsius threshold for significant impacts, Dr. Weaver was optimistic about the longer-range opportunity to create entirely de-carbonized societies through technological innovation, and implored planners to build the infrastructure to facilitate such a transformation.
FULL STORY: Opening Keynote: Communicating Climate Change

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
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.
Caltrans
City of Fort Worth
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie