Environment

The Importance of Cities to the World

Neal Peirce expounds on the increasing power and importance of cities, a dominant message in the new book "Triumph of the City" by economist Edward Glaeser.

February 21, 2011 - Citiwire

Solar Roads: The Next Revolution in Solar Power

A prototype bike path is being built in Amsterdam. When complete, it will combine the best aspects of earth-friendly transportation and eco-friendly energy, say the project's developers.

February 15, 2011 - WebEcoist.com

Preparing New York City for Extreme Weather Events

Climate change and sea level rise are expected to increase the amount of major storm events worldwide. For coastal parts of New York City, the effects could be catastrophic. The city is trying to plan now for the storms to come.

February 15, 2011 - WNYC

"Urban Sprawl is Finished," Claims Author of Australian Study

The Planning Institute of Australia released a report that predicts a grim future for Australia's suburbs, unless the government moves to radically overhaul its transport and urban policies.

February 15, 2011 - The Sydney Morning Herald

Protecting Water Security in the Chicago Area

Regional water issues are of major concern in many parts of the world. The Chicago area is especially sensitive to water. New efforts are underway there to help preserve a threatened resource.

February 15, 2011 - Citiwire

All That We Share: An Interview with Jay Walljasper

What, as a society, do we share? Natural resources? Internet access? Public space? Jay Walljasper and the nonprofit On the Commons cross political boundaries to advocate for the common good and all that we share.

February 14, 2011 - Tim Halbur

Leonardo DiCaprio Visits the 1st Green Affordable Housing Project in the U.S.'

Leonardo DiCaprio accompanied architect Lawrence Scarpa to report on the project and to discuss the rationale behind this type of low-income housing development.

February 11, 2011 - GOOD Magazine

Farming the Subdivision

Agricultural spaces are increasingly being included in housing developments.

February 10, 2011 - Landscape Architecture Magazine

EPA to select 20 communities for Sustainability Program

Interested communities are invited to apply until February 23, 2011. The purpose of the program is to help interested communities adopt sustainable planning methods.

February 8, 2011 - Sustainable Cities Collective

More Evidence that City Living is the Greenest

Ever since David Owen's book Green Metropolis pushed forward the idea that cities are better for the planet, people have been debating if it's really so. New evidence says yes.

February 7, 2011 - Grist

Religious Freedoms vs. Land-Use Laws

A Vermont couple is challenging the decision of a state zoning commission that limits their right to illuminate a 24 foot cross on their own property to several weeks around Christmas.

February 7, 2011 - BurlingtonFreePress.com

Religious Freedoms vs. Land-Use Laws

A Vermont couple is challenging the decision of a state zoning commission that limits their right to illuminate a 24 foot cross on their own property to several weeks around Christmas.

February 7, 2011 - BurlingtonFreePress.com

Andres Duany Says LEED and Optimization Driving Up Costs

Speaking at the New Partners for Smart Growth Conference last week, Duany said that he fears developers will give up on building sustainably because of overly onerous infrastructure costs required by LEED and other systems.

February 7, 2011 - Partnership for Sustainable Communities

Wind Power An Added Perk of Bridge Design

A team of Italian architects have proposed a honeycomb-like design for a viaduct that would include built-in wind turbines.

February 6, 2011 - Popular Science

A Community Built to be Green

The Vauban District in southern Germany is a small community built around a green transportation scheme, but it has become much more: a model of cooperative decision-making, sustainability and eco-planning.

February 5, 2011 - The Cereplast Blog

Groundwater Management A Looming Disaster for California

Of all the environmental problems facing California, depletion of its groundwater may be the most important according to this piece.

February 2, 2011 - NRDC Switchboard

Seeking an Example of Sustainable Urbanism in Seattle

Seattle has the political momentum behind sustainable urbanism, but it doesn't seem to have a physical neighborhood example of how sustainable urbanism can work, according to this article.

January 30, 2011 - Sustainable Industries

Decades of Failure in the Sea of Dust

When Los Angeles drained Owens Lake to bring water into its quickly growing urban basin, it simultaneously created a dry lakebed and one of the worst dust pollution problems in America. Various efforts to fight the problem have only failed.

January 27, 2011 - Places

Seeking a Greener Future for Downtown Minneapolis

With a downtown largely devoid of trees, Minneapolis is considering a new plan that would add more green life and greenspace to the city's center.

January 26, 2011 - MinnPost

From Breadbasket to Food Desert

The rural Midwest produces much of our nation's food supply, and yet small towns in the heartland and around America are increasingly and ironically becoming food deserts - places where citizens have little access to fresh, healthy foods.

January 25, 2011 - Grist

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.