Climate Change

White Light, White Streets

Fighting global warming could be as simple as a paint job -- a global, sun-reflecting, white-wash paint job, according to scientist Hashem Akbari.

28 January 2009 - 2:00pm

Guardian

Global Warming May Trigger a 'Perpetual Food Crisis'

A new study predicts that by the mid- to late- 21st century, scorching summer temperatures may result in massive failures of heat-sensitive crops such as wheat.

12 January 2009 - 2:00pm

The Globe and Mail

Exxon to Congress: Give Us A Carbon Tax, Please!

Exxon's CEO has joined Al Gore, Dr. James Hansen, and others on the forefront fighting climate change in requesting a carbon tax, though they make in clear it should be in lieu of cap & trade, the method favored by the Democrats.

12 January 2009 - 12:00pm

The Wall Street Journal

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1 comment

Michael Lewyn

A weak link

Sun, 01/11/2009 - 20:19

A common refrain among environmentally-minded planners is: policy X will reduce global warming. So why would anyone be dumb enough to oppose policy X?

But often, global warming will be the weakest, not the strongest, argument for policy X.

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Dutch Try to Step Up Flood Protection

This article from Wired looks at new plans to prevent massive flooding in the low-lying Netherlands.

3 January 2009 - 9:00am

Wired

Is Climate Change an Energy Problem?

Alex Steffen at WorldChanging turns the climate change problem inside out to reconsider whether the form of energy is the true issue, rather than how much is wasted and how we use it.

1 January 2009 - 1:00pm

WorldChanging

California's Biggest Land Use Story Is Not The Housing Market

The deepening of the housing market crisis is certainly a big deal in California. But the land use story of the year was the Legislature's passage of a measure mandating regional planning.

1 January 2009 - 5:00am

California Planning & Development Report

Save a City, Win a Prize

A California state arm called the Bay Conservation and Development Commission has announced plans for a $125,000 contest to come up with ideas for cities to deal with climate change in the San Francisco Bay Area.

25 December 2008 - 9:00am

San Francisco Chronicle

Infrastructure In Canada Threatened By Climate Change

An internal report to the Canadian government written nearly two years ago concludes that infrastructure in the country is at serious risk from climate change. The study came to light recently under the Access to Information Act.

18 December 2008 - 7:00am

The Vancouver Sun

Greenhouse Gas Plan Punts On Land Use Issue

In a surprising last-minute change, a new plan that outlines how California will reduce its greenhouse gas emissions does not include a concrete target for reductions attributable to less-sprawling land use patterns.

14 December 2008 - 9:00am

California Planning & Development Report

Air Resources Board Weighing Climate Plans

At a crucial two-day meeting, the California Air Resources Board may adopt, reject or modify two separate, landmark, controversial plans - one on climate change, the other on diesel emissions from trucks and buses.

11 December 2008 - 10:00am

San Francisco Chronicle

To Re-Imagine Cities, Re-Imagine Urban Design

Oil is running out and the climate is changing. How this impacts cities will largely be determined by how the urban design field reacts.

13 November 2008 - 5:00am

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6 comments

Oil Shortage & Climate Crisis On Horizon

Despite the reduction in oil consumption caused by the global recession, the world faces a duel energy-environmental crisis of an oil shortage and climate crisis, according to the World Energy Outlook written by the International Energy Agency.

10 November 2008 - 5:00am

The New York Times

Sydney Facing Significant Risk From Climate Change

A new study warns that climate change will bring significant changes to weather patterns and coastlines, with serious planning implications for Sydney, Australia.

1 November 2008 - 1:00pm

Sydney Morning Herald

Legislation Edges California Closer to True Urban Planning

Recently approved legislation tying land use planning to greenhouse gas emissions is being sold as critically important by both detractors and supporters. But Bill Fulton argues that SB 375 provides only one step in an ongoing evolution.

30 October 2008 - 12:00pm

California Planning & Development Report

Berkeley Unveils Climate Action Plan Based Around TOD

In Nov, 2006, the residents of Berkeley approved a measure requiring the city to reduce GHG emissions by 80% by the year 2050. The draft plan has been released, and unlike an earlier version, this one emphasizes transit oriented development as key.

28 October 2008 - 8:00am

The Berkeley Daily Planet

Gordon Price

Business Not As Usual

Sun, 10/26/2008 - 09:20

Out in the bar, the world as we know it was coming to an end. In the backroom, meanwhile, smart people were trying to figure out the future of suburbia.

The bar was in the lobby of a classic desert resort in Arizona. On the TV, CNN was delivering headlines of imminent doom. It was the last days of September, and the foundations of American finance were cracking under the strains of default and distrust.

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older posts

Climate Change Tackled by Cities and States

Before the fiscal crisis, there was the global climate crisis. After the fiscal crisis, we’ll still have the global climate crisis — for the rest of our lives.

21 October 2008 - 2:00pm

Citiwire.net

Climate Protection Jeopardized By Financial Crisis & Recession

The worldwide credit crisis will affect the ability of the developed world to tackle climate change. Businesses in Europe and U.S. are asking for delays in meeting emission reductions mandates notwithstanding the drop in oil prices.

20 October 2008 - 5:00am

Wall Street Journal

Report from the Congress For European Urbanism

Faith Cable reports on the CEU's 3rd annual conference, held in Oslo, Norway, which addressed cities and their ability to address climate change through urban design.

19 October 2008 - 9:00am

WorldChanging