China

The Price of Global Energy Subsidies: $5.3 Trillion

An IMF working paper determined that global energy subsidies totaled $5.3 trillion this year, the worst offenders are China and the U.S. Placing a price on these subsidies, which include air pollution and carbon emissions, may be key to mitigation.

May 20, 2015 - Reuters

China Reforestation

China Plants 'Great Green Wall' of Trees

Net deforestation continues, but at a slower rate as the world's largest ecological engineering project stretches for a planned 2,800 miles. It is hoped the new trees will halt the advance of the Gobi Desert.

April 29, 2015 - Quartz

Shanghai China

China's Megacities May Soon Rely on Urban Farming

While widespread urban farming remains pipe dream in the United States, dwindling arable land and a mass shift to cities might make it a necessity in China.

March 31, 2015 - designboom

Report: 2014 the 'Tallest Year Ever' for New Skyscrapers

The heights of the building envelope saw unprecedented expansion in 2014.

January 13, 2015 - Dezeen

Documentary Examines China's 'Back-to-the-Land' Movement

Linda Poon shares news of a short documentary about a Chinese artist trying to "bring economic and cultural development to a village struggling to survive China's rapid urbanization."

January 10, 2015 - NPR

Mapping America's Toy Manufacturing

All those toys under the Christmas tree came from somewhere.

December 25, 2014 - The Washington Post

China High Speed Rail

1100-Mile High Speed Rail Route Opens in China—Equivalent to Los Angeles to Seattle

China opened 32(!) new high speed rail routes this week, including a connection between Shanghai and Guanzhou equivalent to a trip between Los Angeles and Seattle.

December 12, 2014 - Shanghai Daily

Mexico's High Speed Rail Plans Hits $3.75 Billion Contract Snag

Mexico's planned high-speed rail project looked like tit was full speed ahead until the country rescinded the original construction contract, awarded to the China Railway Construction Corp. A new round of bids is expected soon.

December 3, 2014 - Reuters

Study Reveals China's Middle Class Obesity Problem

A study titled "Walking, obesity and urban design in Chinese neighborhoods" finds that the population with least access to walkable neighborhoods in China—namely, the middle class, are suffering the worst of the country's growing obesity problem.

November 19, 2014 - CityLab

Will the Historic Climate Accord Survive the U.S. Political Process?

While environmentalists were hailing the historic carbon emissions reduction agreement between the leaders of the United States and China, the world's two largest emitters, Republican leaders wasted no time in slamming the accord.

November 13, 2014 - CBS News

Shenzhen Crumbling Buildings

China Filling 'Ghost City' with Rural Farmers

In a bid to urbanize its vast interior, China plans to settle one of its vast pre-built cities with workers unused to city life. Upon arrival, they undergo training to become instant urbanites.

November 13, 2014 - The Guardian

Breaking News: China and U.S. Agree to Emissions Reduction Plan

A surprise, groundbreaking agreement between China and the United States was unveiled in Beijing at the end of the APEC conference, providing hope that the world can reduce the threat from climate change.

November 12, 2014 - NPR

China's Baby Bust

When China relaxed its rigid one-child policy last November, health officials were expecting an additional two million births to result. As of Sept. 30, they have received only 804,000 applications from eligible couples.

November 11, 2014 - The Wall Street Journal

Researchers Pushing for Even Bigger Chinese Cities

Research suggests China’s current urbanization policy forgoes $2 trillion in growth over the next ten years. That is, unless the government funnels even more migrants into major population centers and develops for density.

October 24, 2014 - Bloomberg News

Underground

Beijing's One Million Underground Urban Dwellers

The October issue of Land Lines reveals the remarkable story of how an estimated one million people came to live in subterranean apartments in Beijing.

October 13, 2014 - Land Lines

Cell Phones Fail the Eyeball Test for Public Safety

Citing anecdotal evidence from Montgomery County, the Governors Highway Safety Association, and China, a Washington Post article argues that cell phones are creating public safety concerns.

September 22, 2014 - The Washington Post

Chinese City Installs Special Lanes for Distracted Walkers

In both a literal and figurative sign of the times, the Chinese city of Chongqing recently installed signage and marking to segregate pedestrian traffic between smartphone users and those walking free of such technological distractions.

September 16, 2014 - The Washington Post

Meet China's New Carbon Market

The world's largest emitter of CO2, China, has adopted a cap-and-trade program would open the world's largest carbon market as early as 2016.

September 9, 2014 - Mother Jones

China Dominates the Bike Share Market

Although, in its current computerized form, bike share began in France in 1998, giving Europe a substantial head start, nothing compares to the size of China's programs.

August 27, 2014 - Vox

China Bans the Use of Coal Around Cities

In this Sunday Review editorial, The New York Times applauds China's announcement that it will ban coal burning in the Beijing region by 2020, but warns that some solutions to air pollution will exacerbate climate change.

August 26, 2014 - The New York Times

FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?

After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.

Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold

The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.

Transportation Planner I

KFH Group Inc.

Director, Strategy and Research

Greater Baltimore Committee

Senior Planner

Eagle County Government

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