Agenda 21

United Nations Taking First Steps Toward the New Urban Agenda

Some of the big work left undone by the Habitat III summit in finalizing the New Urban Agenda in December is now moving forward. The future of the New Urban Agenda and UN-Habitat can now start to take shape.

April 26, 2017 - Citiscope

United Nations Flags

New U.N. Form-Based Code Guidelines: Like 'Agenda 21 Times 2'

There are few political third rails in the world of planning like Agenda 21, a nonbinding United Nations resolution often found at the center of planning controversies in the United States.

April 1, 2016 - Planetizen April 1st Edition

Glenn Beck

The Ideological War Against Urban Planning

The anti-planning debate may have quieted down, but it hasn't disappeared. Anti-Agenda 21 activists have merely spread out, into the politics of cities and counties planning for the future.

January 5, 2016 - Governing

A History of Bi-Partisan Anti-Urbanism

Although recent studies and controversies such as Agenda 21 make anti-urban politics seem like a right wing commodity, a new book details the implications of a long history of bi-partisan anti-urbanism.

July 15, 2014 - The Boston Globe

Environmentalists Settle Lawsuit on Plan Bay Area

Two down, two to go. Rarely has a regional transportation/land use plan been sued by so many diverse groups. Environmentalists settled with Bay Area regional planning agencies with assurances that the 2017 plan will better account for GHG reductions.

June 24, 2014 - Contra Costa Times

Agenda 21 Opponents Under the Microscope

Writing for Fortune magazine, David Morris examines the influence of the Anti-Agenda 21 movement, especially one of the movement's figureheads, Rosa Koire, who wrote the book "Behind the Green Mask: U.N. Agenda 21."

June 20, 2014 - Fortune Magazine

United Nations Flags

How Agenda 21 Trumps Planning

Agenda 21, a nonbinding United Nations resolution signed in 1992 by 170 world leaders, was developed to encourage "sustainable development." Now it’s a political talking point that kills planning efforts all over the country.

February 27, 2014 - Next City

The Future of Municipal Planning: Is John Nolen Rolling Over in his Grave?

Are today's city planners fulfilling the promise of John Nolen? Howard Blackson explores a profession losing its influence, and ponders how to get it back.

April 9, 2013 - PlaceShakers

Glenn Beck

Glenn Beck Plans His Ideal City

The conservative commentator has proposed a $2 billion "city-theme park hybrid" that "would bring several of Glenn’s seemingly disconnected projects into one place." You'll be surprised at the similarities with certain Smart Growth principles.

January 18, 2013 - DC.Streetsblog

Spiral Shops

Are Planners the Victims of a Dastardly Mind-Control Plot?

If you've ever led a public planning process you may be complicit in perpetuating a diabolical conspiracy to coerce Americans into accepting "a United Nations-run communist dictatorship in which suburbanites will be forcibly relocated to cities."

November 16, 2012 - Mother Jones

Arizona Activist Defends Planning from Tea Party Assault

Greg Hanscom profiles Stacey Champion, an environmental consultant and PR specialist who uncovered, and defeated, shady efforts to ban sustainability planning in Arizona.

September 10, 2012 - Grist

Anti-Agenda 21 Platform Part of Long Property Rights Tradition

While it might seem like the Agenda 21 conspiracy theorists have arisen quite quickly out of the murky backwaters of the Republican party, Llewellyn Hinkes-Jones traces the lengthy enti-environmentalist roots of the movement.

September 2, 2012 - The Atlantic Cities

GOP Platform Takes Aim at Community Planning

The official G.O.P. platform approved at the party's convention on Tuesday included tough language on U.N. Agenda 21, decrying it as "erosive of American sovereignty," reports Leslie Kaufman.

August 30, 2012 - The New York Times

Kansas County Bows Out of Regional Planning Effort, Citing Federal Intrusion

Citing Agenda 21 fears, a Kansas county declines to join a $1.5 million, five-county planning effort, reports Deb Gruver.

August 1, 2012 - The Witchita Eagle

Who's Behind the Anti-Agenda 21 Firestorm?

Lloyd Alter investigates the individuals and organizations "manufacturing" the anti-Agenda 21 campaign, and argues that "Big Oil" is helping to bankroll anti-sustainability efforts.

July 10, 2012 - Treehugger

Alabama Outlaws Policies "Traceable" to Agenda 21

Isn't it great when our gridlocked government can finally come together to unanimously support vital legislation? That was the case in the Alabama state legislature last month when Senate Bill 477 passed both chambers unanimously.

June 6, 2012 - Press-Register

Can the Bay Area Grow Up Without Growing Out?

John King writes about an ambitious new regional plan for the Bay Area that looks to accommodate the 1.1 million new jobs and 2.1 million new residents expected by 2040, with relatively little suburban sprawl.

March 20, 2012 - San Francisco Chronicle

Why You Should Pay Attention to Rio's Earth Summit

Diana Lind previews the 2012 Earth Summit being held in 100 days in Rio, and argues why one of the year's most significant climate change conferences should receive more attention.

March 12, 2012 - Next American City

Why Tea Party Criticism Should Matter to Planners

Andrew H. Whittemore contends that planners dismiss the far-fetched theories of a grand United Nations sustainability conspiracy at their own peril.

February 8, 2012 - The Atlantic Cities

A Shift of Attention to Local Planning Policies by the Tea Party Becomes National News

The 'lamestream media' picks up the story of Tea Party activists railing against efforts to control sprawl and conserve energy.

February 6, 2012 - The New York Times

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Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

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Planning for Universal Design

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