Environment

New Delaware Laws Address Renewable Energy, EVs, Climate Resilience
Recently enacted legislation promotes offshore wind projects, solar energy, and electric vehicle infrastructure.

New Exhibit Highlights the Urgent Need to Protect Joshua Trees
The Lancaster Museum exhibit “Desert Forest: Life with Joshua Trees” aims to raise awareness of the ecological importance of Joshua trees and the threats they face from climate change in the Mojave Desert.

Honolulu Has a New Chief Resilience Officer
Mayor Rick Blangiardi has appointed Ben Sullivan as executive director and chief resilience officer for the Honolulu Office of Climate Change, Sustainability and Resiliency.

The Essential Role of Parks in Advancing Sustainability
Parks are vital to sustainability, providing environmental, economic, and social benefits that improve public health, support biodiversity, and promote equity, as recognized in Los Angeles County’s OurCounty Plan.

New Study Shows How Urban Trees Improve Public Health
Louisville's Green Heart project demonstrates that strategically planting trees in underserved neighborhoods can significantly reduce inflammation levels, highlighting the health benefits of urban greenery through a novel, data-driven approach.

Puente Hills Landfill Redevelopment Plan Wins Award for Transformative, Climate-Responsive Design
This project to transform a former landfill into a climate-resilient public space has won the 2024 Global Impact Award from ASLA and IFLA for its innovative, community-driven design that addresses environmental and social challenges.

New Book Shows How Geographic Technology Tackles Global Challenges
In his new book, Jack Dangermond explores the transformative impact of GIS technology in solving global challenges through spatial data, highlighting its widespread application across sectors and its potential to design sustainable futures.

Massachusetts Has the Nation’s Only Successful Food Waste Ban
The state has reduced its methane emissions by 25.7 percent per ton of waste following a law that seeks to eliminate food waste from landfills.

Planning for Future Floods
New climate and flood models are needed to understand growing flood risks.

Opinion: LA Should Reject ‘Misguided’ Car-Centric Policies
Even as the city highlights clean energy and transportation for the 2028 Olympics, Metro and Caltrans move forward with plans to expand highways.

Study: Lakes Near Communities of Color Less Inspected for Water Quality
The research is the first of its kind to analyze the relationship between freshwater monitoring and the race and ethnicity of nearby communities.

Commentary: Ensuring a Sustainable Future for Hurricane-Vulnerable Rural Communities Is Imperative
As we brace for the second half of the 2024 hurricane season, we need to take serious action to help rural communities recover and build greater resilience against hurricanes.

Houston Transit Agencies Offer ‘Free Fare Fridays’ for Ozone Action Month
Harris County is one of several Texas counties that failed EPA standards for clean air in recent years.

Envisioning a New Park in East Los Angeles
Los Angeles County is working towards transforming underutilized land into a vibrant pocket park in the City Terrace neighborhood of East LA.

Rising Heat Threatens Growing California Cities
Many rapidly growing inland California cities are facing increased extreme heat days due to climate change, putting more residents at risk of health issues and overwhelming local infrastructure.

Symposium Highlights the Crucial Role of Trees in Combatting Extreme Heat
Experts emphasize that planting and maintaining trees in urban areas is essential for reducing extreme heat, cooling cities, and preventing heat-related illnesses, especially as heatwaves become more frequent and severe.

Study: Outdated Stormwater Infrastructure Exacerbates Flooding
Infrastructure built to mitigate flooding a century ago no longer serves current needs.

Tacoma Program Offers Free Street Trees
The Green Blocks program targets neighborhoods with the highest need for additional tree canopy.

Court Bars EPA Probes in Louisiana’s ‘Cancer Alley’
A federal court ruling effectively prevents the Environmental Protection Agency from pursuing civil rights claims in one of the nation’s most polluted regions.

Southern California Utilities Cut Power, Gas to Hundreds of Households on Shifting Coastal Land
Slow but significant land movement is damaging infrastructure, prompting power shutoffs and calls for evacuation in Rancho Palos Verdes.
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.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
New York City School Construction Authority
Village of Glen Ellyn
Central Transportation Planning Staff/Boston Region MPO
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions