Environment

London

Sadiq Khan Pledges to Clean Up London’s Toxic Air

The World Health Organisation published figures on 12 May 2016 which showed that London has breached safe levels of pollutant particles known as PM10. Almost 10,000 Londoners die prematurely each year, because of polluted air.

May 16, 2016 - Cities of the Future

Electronic Waste

Activists Track America's Electronic Waste

When a watchdog group partnered with MIT to install trackers on a batch of e-waste, the results were sobering. Much of the haul left the country, ending up in Asian junkyards where unknowing workers are exposed to toxic substances.

May 16, 2016 - KUOW

Nu River China

China's Last Wild River Could Remain Free of Dams

Plans to dam China's last wild river have been circulating since 2003, but now it seems that conservationists could emerge victorious

May 14, 2016 - National Geographic

Cows and Railroad Tracks

Friday Funny: Here's Where Cows Could Take Over the United States

Vox imagines a world in which cows stage a military coup.

May 13, 2016 - Vox

Fort McMurray Fire

Documenting the Trail of the Huge Fire in Canada

An unusually large and hot fire has struck Alberta, Canada at an unusually early time of year. According to researchers, this is the new normal.

May 12, 2016 - National Geographic

Community Garden

A New 'Learning Garden' for Detroit's Osborn Neighborhood

A new garden has opened in Detroit's Osborn neighborhood. It's described as the city's first outdoor learning garden.

May 11, 2016 - The Detroit News

Bay Area Wetlands

Parcel Tax Measure Would Fund Climate Adaptation in Bay Area by Restoring Wetlands

Next month, along with picking presidential, U.S. Senate and legislative candidates, and local ballot measures in a primary election, voters in the Bay Area will also determine the outcome of the first regionwide measure in Bay Area history.

May 11, 2016 - KQED Science

Balancing the Scales of City Sustainability

Urbanism and smart growth are great for cities, people, and "the environment"—but neighborhood impacts must be mitigated. Kaid Benfield gives pointers on balancing the scales.

May 10, 2016 - PlaceShakers

Phoenix Dust Storm

Mayoral Op-Ed: Give Cities the Power to Address Climate Change

In an opinion piece, former mayor Michael Bloomberg of New York joins Anne Hidalgo of Paris and Eduardo Paes of Rio de Janeiro. They argue that national governments should give cities every possible tool to cut emissions.

May 10, 2016 - The Guardian

Oil

Interior Department Secretary Jumps Into Fossil Fuel Debate

U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell expressed a surprisingly pro-industry viewpoint in response to the growing "keep it in the ground" environmental movement.

May 9, 2016 - The Desert Sun

The Greening of Large Trucks Begins at California's Ports

A Planetizen blog post by Casey Brazeal asks, "When will the trucking industry electrify?" Three truck manufacturers and electric truck builder BYD Motors are now in competition thanks to a $23.6 million state grant to the South Coast Air District.

May 9, 2016 - Fleet Owner

San Gabriel Mountains

19 Mansions May Be Headed to Los Angeles Wilderness

A fight is brewing over a plan to build 19 luxury homes on an expanse of wilderness in Los Angeles' San Gabriel Mountains.

May 8, 2016 - San Gabriel Valley Tribune

great lakes

Water Diversion Controversy Stifles Milwaukee Suburb's Growth Plans

The city of Waukesha asked for more water than the Great Lakes Compact would allow. Commenters remind the city of Waukesha that water for growth was never the goal of the Great Lakes Compact.

May 6, 2016 - Milwaukee-Wisconsin Journal Sentinel

Point No Point

Changes to Google Maps Don't Necessarily Equal Good Cartography

Google Maps has changed a lot since its quick rise to ubiquity. An intrepid blogger digs into the nitty gritty of how the mapping platform has changed, and the consequences of Google's cartography for how the public perceives the world.

May 5, 2016 - Justin O'Beirne

Bioswale

Unique Public-Private Partnership Tackles Stormwater Infrastructure in Maryland

By combining the resources of the public and private sectors, Prince George County was able to greatly reduce the costs required to retrofit an aging stormwater system.

May 3, 2016 - Bay Journal

Pollution 2

The Path to Success for an Effective Carbon Tax

A Vox explainer describes the complex political, economic, and cultural obstacles to overcome in achieving a carbon tax equal to the social cost of carbon.

May 3, 2016 - Vox

Presidio Park

San Francisco's New Park, Built Over a Viaduct

Designed by the same landscape architect behind New York City's High Line, a new park will cap San Francisco's Doyle Drive, connecting the Presidio to the shoreline.

May 2, 2016 - The Atlantic

Chicago Lake Michigan Trees

After the Scourge: Regions Struggle to Sustain Plantlife

The Chicago Region Trees Initiative provides a regional model for planting and protecting a sustainable natural environment in and around cities and communities.

April 29, 2016 - Chicago Tribune

Sacramento - San Joaquin River Delta

Environmentalist Alarmed Over California-Focused Federal Water Legislation

An op-ed argues that instead of building a more resilient and sustainable water supply infrastructure, two water bills before congress would rollback exiting environmental protections.

April 29, 2016 - Los Angeles Times

Santa Monica Bay

Los Angeles Reaps the Benefits of Restoring the Santa Monica Bay

Los Angeles has made major progress in restoring the Santa Monica Bay. Now, The Bay Foundation's Tom Ford sees opportunities for L.A. to capitalize on its natural resources.

April 28, 2016 - The Planning Report

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.

Associate/Senior Planner

Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development

Senior Planner

Heyer Gruel & Associates PA

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.