Environment

Sweden's Cutting-Edge, 17-Story Greenhouse

Julie Ma investigates how one Swedish company is paving the way for a new urban food system that aims to increase one city's self-sufficiency.

March 14, 2012 - Good

Do Municipal Climate Plans Do Any Good?

With more than 600 cities in the U.S. developing or having enacted formal climate plans, Nate Berg investigates disconcerting new findings that show a lack of any causal connection between greenhouse gas reductions and climate action plans.

March 13, 2012 - The Atlantic Cities

Why You Should Pay Attention to Rio's Earth Summit

Diana Lind previews the 2012 Earth Summit being held in 100 days in Rio, and argues why one of the year's most significant climate change conferences should receive more attention.

March 12, 2012 - Next American City

Relocating An Entire Country To Escape Climate Change

You think the preparations your coastal town are considering making to accommodate rising seal levels are onerous? Well read about the Pacific island nation of Kiribati, who are considering the need to move their entire populace to Fiji.

March 11, 2012 - Inhabitat

Is Europe's Emission Reduction Too Much of a Good Thing?

The Economist reports on what Europe's tanking carbon market means for efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions on the continent.

March 8, 2012 - The Economist

Texas Confronts the Cost of Its Green Dreams

Matthew Tresaugue reports on the difficulties Texas cities such as College Station are having in living up to their green commitments in the down economy, reflecting a nationwide pattern.

March 7, 2012 - The Houston Chronicle

Quitting Diesel is Good for Your Health

Diane Bailey reports on a new study's findings linking diesel exhaust to lung cancer. The findings have sparked concern for people who live in large cities with high levels of diesel pollution.

March 6, 2012 - Switchboard

Coming Soon to a Low-Lying Coastal Area Near You: Disastrous Flooding

ScienceDaily reports on a new study by researchers from Princeton University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology which shows that what used to be considered a 'Storm of the Century' may soon become a 'Storm of the Decade.'

February 29, 2012 - ScienceDaily

Top Planning Trends of 2011-2012

February 27, 2012 - Jonathan Nettler

Are 100-Mile Houses the Next Green Building Trend?

Taking a page from the locavore food movement, an architectural competition in Vancouver asks entrants to design a home using materials made or recycled within 100 miles of the city, writes Mark Boyer.

February 27, 2012 - Good

Fracking Ruling May Result In More Local Bans

In what may turn out to be a landmark ruling, the right of Dryden, a New York township adjacent to Cornell University to use its zoning code to ban the controversial drilling technique known fracking was upheld by the N.Y. State Supreme Court.

February 23, 2012 - Pro Publica

Mexico City Trash Pickers Fight for Their Livelihood

As city officials introduce plans to overhaul waste disposal in the capital of Mexico, a deeply rooted constituency fights back.

February 22, 2012 - New York Times

Is the Obama Administration Playing Politics With Environmental Rules?

As the campaign season nears, many of the sweeping environmental regulations that the Obama administration made headlines for enacting are being held up over concerns about their effect on the President's election campaign, Juliet Eilperin reports.

February 14, 2012 - The Washington Post

The Value of Urban Trees in Promoting Bird Diversity

A world first study explicitly demonstrates that large trees in urban parks are “keystone structures” that help provide important habitat and contribute to the richness, abundance and breeding of birds, reports Megan Doherty.

February 14, 2012 - The Canberra Times

Why the Politics of Climate Change Matter

Suzy Khimm reports on a new study that demonstrates politicians affect the way that Americans view the issue of climate change more than almost anything else, including news, weather, or science.

February 13, 2012 - The Washington Post

Why NASA's Spectacular Image of the Earth is So Disturbing

NASA's amazing high definition update of its infamous "Blue Marble" photograph of Earth is disturbing not for what can be seen, but for what cannot.

February 10, 2012 - Mother Jones

A Call For Regenerative Cities

Sustainability is not enough. Because so much damage has already been inflicted upon the world's ecosystems, Anna Leidreiter argues for the need for regenerative cities that positively enhance 'ecosystem services.'

February 1, 2012 - The Global Urbanist

Thinking About Sustainability on a Global Scale

In an opinion piece, noted economist Jeffrey Sachs explores what it will take to achieve the 'triple bottom line' of sustainable development, which the UN puts at the top of the global agenda.

February 1, 2012 - Project Syndicate

As New York Plants One Million Trees, Benefits—and Some Burdens—Grow

The city’s MillionTrees program fights asthma and global warming. But tightening maintenance budgets, increasingly severe weather and decades-old planting decisions complicate trees’ contribution.

February 1, 2012 - City Limits

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.