Environment

Flooding

Texas Adopts Statewide Flood Plan

The plan outlines thousands of suggestions for mitigating flood risk, which pose a threat in all of the state’s planning regions.

August 21, 2024 - Panola Watchman

Group of five people standing in a wetland park smiling at the camera during a cleanup event.

Building a Greener Future: Youth Leadership in Climate Action

The L.A. County Youth Climate Commission empowers young voices to influence sustainable policies, prioritizing environmental justice and addressing top issues like cleaner air, green spaces, and green buildings.

August 20, 2024 - National Recreation and Park Association Open Space Blog

Aerial view of smoke from fires in Lahaina area of Maui, Hawaii.

University of Hawaiʻi Researchers Assess Impacts of Maui Fires and Support Recovery

One year after the devastating Maui wildfires, UH researchers are addressing the disaster's impacts through studies on health, environmental contamination, disaster preparedness, and housing, aiming to support recovery and improve resilience.

August 19, 2024 - University of Hawai'i News

Intake towers for Hoover Dam in Lake Mead.

Western States Face New Round of Water Cuts

In Nevada, efforts to conserve water include a ban on ornamental grass and regulations on swimming pool sizes.

August 19, 2024 - Nevada Current

Green oil well behind a fence next to a small street in California.

California Could Extend Oil Well Monitoring Deadlines

Legislators are considering extending the deadline for new oil well safety regulations by up to 54 months, sparking controversy over whether the delay benefits the oil industry at the expense of public health.

August 19, 2024 - CALmatters

Group of children looking down at map.

Building Healthier Communities: The Role of GIS in Park Planning

Integrating Geographic Information Systems (GIS) into park planning enhances community health by promoting physical activity, supporting mental well-being, fostering social connectedness, and addressing public health crises and climate change.

August 19, 2024 - Esri Blog

Hands holding up climate change protest signs against blue sky.

Language Matters: “Climate Change” Generates More Concern Than “Climate Crisis”

A recent study found that the terms “climate change” and “global warming” are more familiar and generate greater public concern than less recognized terms like “climate crisis” and “climate justice.”

August 19, 2024 - University Of Southern California

Dusty desert landscape with low visibility and few scraggly plants.

Racing Toward Dystopia

The latest installment in the Mad Max franchise is a more urgent warning about the perils of climate change and megalomania than ever before.

August 14, 2024 - Common Edge Collaborative

Bike parked on urban sidewalk with large street trees.

Sustainable Urban Design: A New Tool and Approach on The Talking Headways Podcast

Discover how the Sustainable Urban Design Framework helps planners create livable, sustainable communities. Nico Larco from the University of Oregon explores a new tool and book in the latest “Talking Headways” podcast.

August 14, 2024 - Streetsblog USA

Hand holding up an analog thermometer outdoors with trees in background.

Study: Urban Trees Lose Cooling Benefits in Extreme Heat

A robust tree canopy can help reduce the urban heat island effect and lower air temperatures, but the impact is reduced as temperatures rise.

August 14, 2024 - University of New South Wales

Aerial view of Baltimore's Inner Harbor with downtown skyline.

Baltimore Invests Billions to Clean its Waterways

Like Paris, the city has been working to improve its wastewater system and make local waterways safe for swimming.

August 13, 2024 - NPR

Close-up of traffic congestion from behind cars on a freeway in the San Francisco Bay Area.

States Claim Highway Expansions Reduce Emissions

The argument is being used to channel climate funding to projects that expand automobile infrastructure, according to an analysis from Transportation for America.

August 12, 2024 - Bloomberg CityLab

Tall mature green trees lining a concrete walkway next to a street with multistory apartment buildings on other side and sun filtering through the leaves.

The Economic Value of Street Trees

Far from just providing shade and improving air quality, trees can also contribute to more resilient roads, lower energy costs, and reduced flood risk.

August 12, 2024 - Strong Towns

Aerial view of small town in Hudson Valley, New York State with river at sunset.

They Had No Heat for Months. A New Law Let Them Sue.

In New York state, tenants can now take landlords to court directly to force repairs and get damages, without withholding rent first. Here’s how one of the first tests of the new law worked.

August 11, 2024 - Shelterforce Magazine

Asphalt road on coast with collapsed segments from erosion.

We Must Relocate to Prepare for Climate Change, and We Must Do it Now

As flooding, sea level rise, fires, and other climate impacts increase, we’ll need to move about 20 million Americans by 2100. Here’s how we can rethink managed retreat to get ahead of the rising tides.

August 8, 2024 - Shelterforce Magazine

Ladder going down into kiva ruin in New Mexico.

The Meaning of Ruins on the Landscape

In the latest in a far ranging series of interest to planners—centered on contrasts between urban and natural environments—Chuck Wolfe speculates about the role of ruins in urban and natural environments.

August 8, 2024 - Resurgence: A Journey via Substack

Bison grazing in green meadow with Grand Teton mountains in background.

Grand Teton Foundation Races to Fundraise — or Lose Key Wildlife Corridor

Wyoming could sell a currently protected parcel of land, key to elk and other hoofed mammal migration paths, to private developers.

August 7, 2024 - NPR

Worker in orange suit and hard hat working on large blue water pipe in ground.

Texas Water Board to Distribute $1 Billion for Infrastructure Improvements

The state must invest $80 billion by 2070 to upgrade its outdated water infrastructure.

August 7, 2024 - The Texas Tribune

Older woman walking on city street holding white lace sun parasol.

Protecting Vulnerable Older Adults From Extreme Heat

People over 65 are at particular risk during heat waves and other climate disasters.

August 6, 2024 - Danielle Arigoni

Interior Secretary Deb Haaland standing in a forested area in Colorado to celebrate recent action by the Biden-Harris administration to withdraw around 220,000 acres in the Thompson Divide area for mineral leasing on 1 July 2024.

How Project 2025 Could Threaten Public Lands

If enacted, the conservative plan could ‘decimate’ public lands and protected habitats.

August 6, 2024 - Colorado Newsline

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.

Senior Manager Operations, Urban Planning

New York City School Construction Authority

Building Inspector

Village of Glen Ellyn

Manager of Model Development

Central Transportation Planning Staff/Boston Region MPO

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.