Environment
Mayors Along the Mississippi See Climate Change Coming — and are Shoring up Together
The Mississippi River Cities and Towns Initiative is bringing together local officials to address climate resilience across the region.
Parking: The Dark Matter of the Urban Universe
Parking regulations affect our lives and communities in many, often mysterious ways. These impacts are often overlooked, resulting in bad policies. It's time to apply urban planning magic: fewer driveways and better managed public parking.
Court Favors First Nations in Landmark Metro Vancouver Land Claim
The longest trial in Canadian history ended with the BC Supreme Court awarding rights to a 750-hectare parcel in Richmond to First Nations groups.
Green Schoolyards Gain Momentum Across Southern California
Fueled by new funding and community partnerships, these projects are replacing heat-trapping asphalt with trees and vegetation to create cooler, healthier school environments.
Study: Parked Cars Significantly Increase Urban Heat Island Effect
Dark-colored cars in particular can raise the surrounding air temperature by as much as 3.8 degrees Celsius.
NYC Unveils First Comprehensive Greenway Plan in 30 Years
New York City’s Greater Greenways plan charts an ambitious, equity-focused expansion of its 500-plus-mile greenway network, aiming to connect more neighborhoods to parks, waterfronts, and safe, sustainable transportation options.
How Copenhagen Became a ‘Sponge City’
The Danish capital is implementing a massive, multi-pronged strategy to build resilience against flooding and shore up water supplies during drought periods.
California’s Cap and Trade Program Up in the Air
The state’s carbon trading program is being attacked as ineffective from one side and overly onerous from the other.
Texas City to Test Waste Heat-to-Water Generation System
The technology harnesses waste heat to produce clean drinking water.
USDOT Issues New Rules for EV Charging Grants After Judge Forces Administration to Unfreeze Funds
The Trump administration is reviving the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure program, revising its guidelines to eliminate consumer protections, environmental reviews, labor standards, and other provisions from the Biden-era program.
Monterey Park’s Blueprint for Equitable Parks
Monterey Park’s first-ever Parks System Master Plan offers a community-driven roadmap for creating more equitable, accessible, and vibrant public spaces.
Transforming Brownfields into a Regional Destination: The Rise of Origin Park
River Heritage Conservancy is transforming more than 400 acres of former junkyards, brownfields, and landfills in Southern Indiana into Origin Park, a nature and recreation destination that will honor the site’s history.
Building a Just Energy Transition
A new book outlines a “four-plus pillars” framework for phasing out fossil fuels while addressing systemic inequities, emphasizing public support, dedicated funding, economic diversification, coalitions, and reforms that dismantle extractive systems.
Mapping Georgia’s Urban Forests
Georgia Tech’s latest urban canopy assessment for Atlanta uses high-resolution mapping and a Potential Planting Index to guide data-driven tree preservation.
LA County Adopts Maximum Indoor Temperature Ordinance to Protect Renters from Extreme Heat
LA County has adopted an ordinance capping indoor temperatures in rental units at 82 degrees Fahrenheit in unincorporated areas, aiming to protect renters from extreme heat while providing phased compliance and support for small landlords.
Op-Ed: The Great Lakes Could Be a Key Source of Wind Energy
States, not the federal government, have authority over wind power leases in the Great Lakes.
Iowa Stormwater Infrastructure Needs Millions in Upgrades
More frequent flooding is prompting cities to evaluate their aging stormwater systems, but the necessary upgrades could be prohibitively expensive for small communities.
Hawaii’s Tsunami Scare Reveals Evacuation Shortfalls
A tsunami alarm revealed serious flaws in Oahu’s evacuation planning, prompting calls for urgent improvements in emergency infrastructure, coordination, and public safety.
Extreme Heat Prompts Trail Closures and Safety Warnings in San Diego
San Diego County has closed three hiking trails for August due to extreme heat, urging hikers to stay safe with proper planning, hydration, and early starts.
How Data is Helping Protect Campus Trees
The University of Alabama at Birmingham is using GIS technology, student engagement, and sustainability-driven planning to manage and protect its nationally recognized urban forest.
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.
planning NEXT
City of Thousand Oaks
City of Wisconsin Rapids
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA)
The Pocatello Development Authority
The Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Pocatello
