Environment
To Fend Off Emerging Threats, Evironmental Protections Need a Revamp
The environmental awakening of the 1970s led to landmark federal laws that have helped heal our natural systems. The growing “Rights of Nature” movement seeks to create new protections to respond to emerging ecological threats.
America's Most Endangered Waterways
In time for Earth Day, American Rivers has released its annual list of the country's most threatened rivers. Topping this year's list is the Colorado River, a waterway so dammed, diverted and over-tapped that it ultimately "dries to a trickle."
What Is Green Infrastructure and Why Does it Matter?
From traditional stormwater management to storm surge abatement and conserving drinking water and watersheds, green infrastructure improves our cities, explains Adrian Benepe of the Trust for Public Land.
Op-Ed: Invest in Natural-Hazard Mitigation to Save Billions in Disaster Recovery
With the costs of rebuilding after natural disaster in the U.S. escalating (now estimated at $50 billion a year), David R. Conrad and Edward A. Thomas argue that scant resources can be better spent on mitigation rather than rebuilding in place.
California Governor's CEQA Reform Efforts: Doomed from the Start?
As calls for reforming California's oft-abused environmental law increase, opponents are digging in their heels in anticipation of Governor Jerry Brown's effort to revise the law to ease approval processes, reports Evan Halper.
IEA: No Progress in Cleaning World's Energy Sources
According to a newly released report by the Paris-based International Energy Association (IEA), "Tracking Clean Energy Progress 2013", notwithstanding some bright spots, there is little progress in reducing the carbon content of energy sources.
Copenhagen Zeroes In on Carbon-Neutral Goal
Justin Gerdes discusses the variety of tactics the city of Copenhagen is utilizing in its march to become the world's first carbon-neutral capital by 2025.
80-Acre Site in Queens to Test Prototypes for Storm Resiliency
While a massive redevelopment project waits to proceed, an 80-acre oceanfront site in the Far Rockaway neighborhood of New York City will host a competition to advance concepts for resilient waterfront development, reports Matt Chaban.
New U.S. Ocean Policy Balances Industry, Energy, and Recreation
The National Ocean Policy released this week by the White House is being praised by many as a collaborative response to the myriad challenges confronting the nation's oceans. For others, it's just another example of federal overreach.
Navigating the American Carbon Market
Gary Gero, President of Climate Action Reserve, discusses his organization's work drafting carbon offset protocols for the California Air Resources Board's cap-and-trade program.
Environment Explains Obesity
Tara Haelle examines the growing consensus among scientists that environmental factors, rather than genes or sloth, are the primary cause of childhood obesity. The onus is on planners and policy makers to create environments that nurture health.
Environmentalists Win Major Fracking Lawsuit in California
Environmentalists scored a major victory in federal court in their battle against fracking in California when a judge ruled that the BLM violated NEPA by not requiring an environmental review prior to auctioning rights for drilling in Monterey Co.
'We Pay Taxes; Parks Don’t'
Some argue that if something is not directly contributing to our public coffers, why protect it? Perhaps it’s worth broadening our understanding of the services – and tax implications – provided by parks.
Striking Images of America Under Water
Graphs and maps can be compelling means to illustrate the dire threat to our cities of rising seas caused by climate change. But for blunt impact, a series of photo illustrations by artist Nickolay Lamm are hard to beat.
Another Reason to Keep Kids Away from Traffic: Cancer
Add cancer to the growing list of ailments being linked to childhood exposure to vehicle emissions, say researchers from UCLA, USC and UC Irvine.
Paolo Soleri, Visionary Who Merged Architecture with Environmentalism, Dies at 93
Soleri, the founder of the experiential community of Arcosanti, who in many ways presaged the modern sustainability movement, passed away on Tuesday at Cosanti, his home in Paradise Valley, Arizona.
The Paradox of the EPA's Clean Fuel Rules
The EPA's newly proposed rules to reduce sulfur in gasoline may have the perverse effect of making alternative vehicles, that is, those that don't run on gasoline, less competitive with conventional vehicles and ensure that we remain addicted to oil.
Why We Should Forget That Fukushima Ever Happened
Nuclear power has saved 370 times more lives than it has ended in the last four decades, says a NASA paper. Despite the horrors of Japan's ongoing nuclear disaster, we'll need to rely on nuclear power for the sake of the environment and human health.
How a 75-year-old Courthouse Became the GSA's Paragon of Sustainability
Chris Bentley explains how San Antonio's Beaux Arts federal courthouse became an unlikely paragon of the GSA's sustainability efforts while balancing a sensitive historic renovation.
Arkansas Oil Pipeline Spill: A Warm-Up for Keystone XL?
The NewsHour's Judy Woodruff asks pointed questions to Anthony Swift, of the Natural Resources Defense Council, and Andy Black, president of the Association of Oil Pipe Lines, about the latest spill involving oil sands crude. The two agree on little.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
City of Rosemead
Rutgers University, Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
One Hundred Miles
University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS)
Hunter College, City University of New York (CUNY)
The Architects Foundation
City of Cambridge
The Pocatello Development Authority
The Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Pocatello
