Environment
The Least Popular Planning Articles of 2019
An unscientific dip into Planetizen traffic data for the first three months of 2019 reveals the planning stories readers couldn't care less about.
California's Most Controversial Housing Bill Advances with Amendments
Senate Bill 50, by Scott Wiener, advanced on two fronts last week: On Wednesday, it passed easily out of its first committee with new "Minneapolis-style" amendments. On Sunday, it received a New York Times editorial endorsement.
Public Input to Help Plan New Nature Trails
Reno officials hope to protect public green space in the Truckee Meadows before potential new development arrives.
'State of the Air Report' Finds More Cities With Worsening Pollution
The American Ling Association released its "State of the Air" report last week, finding that ozone and short-term particle pollution worsened in many cities in 2015-2017, compared to 2014-2016.
Department of Interior Plans to Open 1 Million Acres in California to Fracking
The Bakersfield Office of the Bureau of Land Management released an environmental study that is the basis for undoing a 2013 de facto moratorium on fracking on federal lands in California. The Supplemental EIS triggers a 45-day public comment period.
For Vancouver’s Carbon Footprint Reduction Plan, 2030 is the New 2040
Four months after formally recognizing climate change as an emergency, the Vancouver City Council considers six large-scale changes to dramatically reduce city-wide carbon emissions.
Bird Lays Out Sustainability Goals for Scooters
The scooters contribute to a more diverse mobility landscape, but the environmental impacts of producing and maintaining them need to be reduced.
Sea Level Rise Already Costing Texas Property Owners, Study Says
Ongoing research into the loss of coastal property assets has been expanded to the state of Texas.
Republicans Block Virginia from Joining Regional Cap-and-Trade Program
The Virginia Air Pollution Control Board approved a cap-and-trade policy for utilities to join the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, but Republicans added language in the state budget bill to prevent it.
An Energy Efficient Makeover for D.C.-Area Public Transit
D.C. Metro has a plan to reduce carbon emissions and energy consumption by building to LEED green building standards and buying electric buses.
Another Big City Announces Sweeping Energy Plans for Buildings
San Francisco and New York City made a theme of this year's Earth Day: mandating emissions reductions from buildings.
Urban Forestry Managers Need Better Climate Change Data, Report Says
Results of a new survey suggest that there are benefits to be reaped from a focus on climate change.
Striving for a Zero-Waste Future
A number of U.S. cities have set ambitious zero-waste goals, but reaching targets has been challenging. Turning waste into a viable commodity is one strategy to get materials out of the waste stream.
Cities Win the Water Reallocation Game, Study Shows
A new study says that huge amounts of water are moved from rural areas to cities to support rapidly growing urban populations.
Judge Halts Sales of New Coal Mining Leases on Federal Lands
Once again, the president's efforts to undo his predecessor's environmental legacy were thwarted by a court ruling. In this case, the Interior Department's failure to conduct an environmental review of a Trump executive order ran afoul of NEPA.
NYC Targets Buildings for Massive Emissions Reduction Effort
Last week, the New York City Council approved some of the most substantial climate change legislation to date by a city in the United States—call it the local example of the Green New Deal.
The Effects of Tiny Home Downsizing
People living in tiny homes drastically reduce their ecological footprints and make more sustainable lifestyle choices, research shows.
Report: $14 Billion New Orleans Flood System, Completed Less Than a Year Ago, Already Obsolete
The Army Corps of Engineers is already assessing the needs of repair work on a project it completed in May 2018 at the cost of $14 billion.
The Case for Wildlife Crossings
If wildlife crossings seem to expensive to build with so many infrastructure needs around the country, consider the cost of not building safe passage for animals.
Elizabeth's Warren Plan for Public Lands
Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Massachusetts) recently published a detailed plan to protect public lands.
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.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
planning NEXT
Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie
