Environment

Seatle Skyline

How the West Won—Nature and Cities, Side by Side

The New York Times Opinion Pages present a new narrative for the American West: "A wounded piece of land can be made whole, if managed for the future by people whose capacity for wonder is limitless."

September 6, 2014 - The New York Times

Great Literature and the Value of Thinking While Walking

An article in The New Yorker examines the many benefits granted the life of the mind through the act of walking.

September 5, 2014 - The New Yorker

Local Climate Change Response Prevailing Over Federal Action

With national action tackling climate change remaining weak, regional and local municipalities are taking substantive actions to address the oncoming severe affects of climate change.

September 3, 2014 - Brookings Institution

Report: Fracking Doesn't Pose Danger to California Groundwater

The Bureau of Land Management will resume oil and gas leasing in California after a report by a scientific research organization established by the state legislature showed no correlation between fracking and groundwater pollution.

September 3, 2014 - Los Angeles Times

Fifty Years of the Wilderness Act

Fifty years ago, Lyndon B. Johnson signed into law The Wilderness Act, at the time protecting more than nine million acres of wild lands throughout the nation.

September 2, 2014 - Los Angeles Times

The Environmental Disaster of Louisiana's Vanishing Coast

A rich new feature for ProPublica details what's described as "one of the greatest environmental and economic disasters in the nation’s history."

September 1, 2014 - ProPublica

California to Enact Nation's First Statewide Plastic Bag Ban

Overcoming initial rejection on the Assembly floor on Monday, bill supporters picked up six votes on Thursday "upon reconsideration" and it passed. The Senate approved it Friday and it is on its way to Gov. Jerry Brown, who has until Sept. 30 to act.

September 1, 2014 - KQED News Fix

Chicago Parks District Offers Opportunities to Camp in the Urban Wild

Camping isn't for everyone, but everyone who wants to camp should get an opportunity to. A growing program run by the Chicago Park District allows residents to heed the call of the wild, right inside the city.

August 31, 2014 - Chicago Tribune

California Resolution Will Create More Outdoor Spaces at Schools

The California government passed a new resolution this summer promoting green schoolyards statewide. It builds on previous state policies and unites a wide array of green city planning and education efforts under a single "Living Schoolyard" theme.

August 30, 2014 - Children & Nature Network

Elwha River Glines Canyon Dam

World's Largest Dam Removal Project Complete in Washington State

Here's a comeback story for the ages: The Elwha River in Washington, dammed for the production of hydroelectric power for almost a century, runs wild again.

August 29, 2014 - National Geographic

'Hidden Gas Tax' or Not—California's Cap and Trade Policy Starts a New Era

Will California gas station see queues at their pumps on Dec. 31 as motorists seek their last fill-up before gas prices soar 15 cents per gallon, as AB 69 supporters warned? The bill died in the state legislature on August 22.

August 29, 2014 - Los Angele Times

Gated House

How the One Percent Deals with Drought in California

Anna Louise Bardach tells the story of Montecito, California, an extremely wealthy enclave near Santa Barbara, which has enough money to buy its way out of the drought.

August 26, 2014 - Politico Magazine

China Bans the Use of Coal Around Cities

In this Sunday Review editorial, The New York Times applauds China's announcement that it will ban coal burning in the Beijing region by 2020, but warns that some solutions to air pollution will exacerbate climate change.

August 26, 2014 - The New York Times

U.S. EPA: the Clean Air Act Delivers

Phys.org shares the details of a new report by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency about the air quality benefits of the Clean Air Act for cities around the county.

August 25, 2014 - PhysOrg

Alaska Voters Reject Higher Taxes on Oil Companies

Alaskans agreed, but not by much, with Gov. Sean Parnell and not former Gov. Sarah Palin that oil companies needed to pay less taxes if they are to boost oil production. Voters rejected a tax referendum that was on Tuesday's ballot to repeal SB 21.

August 25, 2014 - FOX News

Study Measures Impacts of Climate and Land Use Changes

Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Aarhus University in Denmark understand for the first time the combined potential impacts of both climate and land-use change on plants, animals, and ecosystems throughout the United States.

August 23, 2014 - Science Daily

Closing Gaps in the Florida Greenways and Trails System

The recent purchase of land to close gaps in the Florida Greenways and Trails System resulted from partnerships between state, regional and county governments to protect land for recreation and conservation in the Sunshine State.

August 21, 2014 - The Palm Beach Post

The Paradox of Reduced Oil Reserve Estimates

Until recently, California's Monterey Shale was estimated to have the nation's highest amount of recoverable oil. Then the Energy Department revised their estimates, lowering it 96%, which turned out to be bad news for fracking moratorium advocates.

August 21, 2014 - Governing

Lean Urbanism: A Century-Old Practice?

A short case study in Lean Urbanism, compliments of Victoria Beach, Manitoba.

August 19, 2014 - PlaceShakers

First 'Chief Resilience Officer' Begins Term in Oakland

Victoria Salinas was recently named Oakland, California's first Chief Resilience Officer (CRO), a position popping up in municipalities throughout the world.

August 19, 2014 - Next City

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.

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.