Environmental Sustainability

The Sanibel Plan

Sanibel Plan identified nine major ecological zones to help planners designate appropriate land uses, intensity, and performance standards. The "Sanibel Report" explained how a comprehensive land-use plan could be formulated based on the island's carrying capacity and natural systems. The plan has allowed Sanibel to grow without exceeding its carrying capacity and led to one of Florida’s pioneer growth management regulations.

5 March 2010 - 10:31am

Dongtan Eco-City: A Model of Sustainability?

Dongtan Eco City was planned for completion for the Shanghai World Expo in 2010. By that time, 5,000 people should be living there. However, the planned housing, water taxis, sewage‐recycling plant and energy park all failed to materialize.

12 January 2010 - 12:00pm

The Urban Reinventors Online Urban Journal

Greenest Developments in Asia

Warren Karlenzig looks for the best examples of sustainable developments in Asia to serve as examples for the growing region.

15 September 2009 - 11:00am

Common Current

Michael Dudley

Civilization Planning?

Fri, 06/12/2009 - 11:40

When we think of cities in antiquity, we don’t hesitate to think of them in association with their respective civilizations. After all, the words civic and civilization share the same root word in Latin, civitas. Similarly, we can now say that we live in a globalized civilization largely structured on what author Jeb Brugmann refers to in his new book Welcome to the Urban Revolution as the global City.

However, in our focus as planners on addressing concerns with current development projects and other local issues we might be forgiven for sometimes losing touch with this larger picture: that the city is still the focal point and driver for those processes we refer to as civilization.

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Invest in Nature’s Infrastructure

According to the Census Bureau, the United States will have over 400 million people by 2040. How will population growth – 100 million more Americans over the next three decades – impact the quality of your environment? The answer will depend on the choices we make as a society, says James A. LaGro, Jr.

19 January 2009 - 5:00am

Arcosanti Revisited: The Sustainable Utopia

A short video profile shows renewed interest in Arcosanti, the utopian community founded by architect Paolo Soleri. Could Soleri's 40 yr. old utopia be the wave of the sustainable future?

3 July 2008 - 9:00am

NBC 12 News

Phoenix Takes a Green Turn

This article from Grist looks at the city of Phoenix as it teams with Arizona State University to shift the city's direction from endless sprawl to a smarter, more environmentally-conscious growth pattern.

14 May 2008 - 8:00am

Grist