Environment

The '30 by 30' Framework Sets an Ambitious Goal for Nature Conservation
California State Legislature committee approved AB 3030 in May, adopting a plan to save 30% of land and sea from development by the year 2030. The Convention on Biological Diversity is likely to follow in adopting the 30 by 30 framework.

Guide to Planning for Public Health, Published by WHO and the UN
There is no planning without public health, according to a new guide released in a moment of global crisis for both professional fields.

Natural Gas Leaks Responsible for the Death of Trees in Urban Areas, According to a New Study
A new study conducted in Chelsea, Massachusetts is the first to quantify the effects of natural gas leaks on the health of urban trees.

New Census Report Captures the Housing Effects of Disasters
A new report from the U.S. Census Bureau offers a new approach to understanding the impact of disasters on local housing markets.

First Wave of Lawsuits to Litigate Michigan's Dam Catastrophe
After a series of failures last week sent flood waters spilling into Midland County, Michigan, property owners in the area are filing class action lawsuits to recoup their losses.

President's Record on Conservation Criticized
President Trump has weakened protections for 35 million acres of public land, despite repeating his intentions to surpass the model for conservation set by President Teddy Roosevelt.

New Coronavirus Hotspots Flaring Up in Rural America
The novel coronavirus is outlasting the narratives of March 2020, and the country will have to reevaluate its assumptions to understand and respond to shifting threats as the public health crisis deepens.

Study: 36,000 American Lives Would Have Been Saved if White House Acted One Week Earlier
Research from Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health looks at the timing of the imposition of public health control measures, at the start of the pandemic and in the present if infections increase, to project lives saved or lost.

Louisiana Coast Will Disappear, Study Says. The Only Question Is How Soon.
Sea-level rise has passed a tipping point in the Gulf of Mexico.

Recording the Quiet of Cities During the Pandemic
The usual sounds of the city have subsided, replaced by birds and quiet that at times can be eery and unsettling.

Climate Change in Action: Massive Storms, Dam Failures
The dam failures that sent residents of Michigan scrambling last week can be connected to the extreme weather events created by climate change, according to experts.

Electric Bike Sales Explode as Cities Rethink Streetscapes
North America has experienced a 5% jump in rates of cycling since the U.S. started staying home. As electric bikes enjoy impressive sales increases, cities around the world consider making the shift permanent by planning bike-friendly infrastructure.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduced 17% Worldwide in April, Study Says
A recently published study predicts a 4 to 7 percent decline in greenhouse gas emissions for 2020 compared to 2019.

New Ideas in Urban Research
Findings from graduating doctoral students undertaking urban-related research.

An Antiracist Planning and Policy Response to the Coronavirus
What would a crisis response that finally overcomes the history of slavery and structural racism in the United States look like?

Fostering a 'Green Economic Recovery' in Post-Coronavirus Cities
Cities around the world are putting sustainability and climate change at the forefront of economic recovery plans.

How Zoning Reform Can Help Businesses Transition to Outdoor Operations
A trend toward allowing restaurants and retailers to expand operations to the public realm outside their brick and mortar confines is quickly gaining steam.

Predicting the Future of Cities After the Pandemic
Two more stories to enter into the archive for the great debate of the coronavirus pandemic: How will the public health crisis change the future of cities?

Big Reservoir Planned for California Scaled Back Due to Lack of Funds
Missed in the non-stop coronavirus coverage of the past several months: plans to build a massive reservoir in North California have been scaled back dramatically.

Approved Nevada Solar Project Would Be the Nation's Largest
Putting the scale in utility-scale solar.
Pagination
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.
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