Environment

Planning for Trees in Los Angeles
The County and City of Los Angeles are working together on community engagement efforts for their Urban Forest Management Plans (UFMPs).

The Infrastructure Law Could Increase Transportation Emissions
With so much funding going to highway construction and expansion, the 2021 law could add 69 million metric tons of carbon to the atmosphere in the next two decades.

The Importance of Botanical Gardens
Southern California is home to some of the best botanical gardens around. TimeOut just released its list of the top Japanese and botanical gardens, mansion and institution gardens, and urban and hidden gardens.

New Book Highlights How GIS Improves Outcomes
Esri Press recently published a digital book called Mapping the Nation which demonstrates how a geographic approach guides important decisions and addresses challenges around the globe.

Colorado Bill Would End Minimum Parking Requirements
Supporters of the bill say eliminating parking mandates would make housing more affordable and reduce carbon emissions.

Redfin to Add Air Quality Data to Property Listings
As climate and wildfire risks grow, Redfin seems to think homeowners will soon be taking air quality scores into consideration when purchasing their next home.

The Benefits of Trees
In addition to all the economically valuable services they provide, trees are beautiful as pure aesthetic objects and a welcome presence in any landscape.

Oregon Town Seeks Funding for Ambitious Resilience Plan
Like other rural communities, Grants Pass is eager to access federal funding aimed at sustainability initiatives, but faces challenges when it comes to meeting grant requirements.

Report: 25 Percent of Americans Live With Poor Air Quality
Fires and extreme heat are generating more harmful particulate matter.

Calculating Vehicle Travel Reduction Benefits
The Rocky Mountain Institute's new Smarter MODES Calculator quantifies economic, social and environmental benefits provided by shifts from automobile travel to more resource-efficient modes. This includes benefits that are often overlooked or undervalued in conventional planning.

Report: 15 Percent of Americans Deny Climate Change
A new study affirms other research showing that a small but vocal minority of Americans don’t believe climate change exists.

How the Great American Outdoors Act Improved Public Lands
The 2020 federal law has helped fund park maintenance projects and improve access to public lands.

Cape Cod Water Quality Threatened by Septic Runoff
Pollutants from local septic tanks are creating problematic algae blooms in local waters. Cleaning it all up could cost billions.

Report: 100 Trends Urban Planners Need to Know About
APA’s third annual Trend Report for Urban Planners is out and offers a comprehensive look at potential drivers of change that could impact communities and the work of planners for decades to come.

The Promise of Urban Food Forests
Planting food-producing trees can offer both shade and a source of healthy foods in concrete-dominated neighborhoods.

Assessing Houston’s ‘Climate Abandonment Areas’
Most of the census tracts designated at high risk of flooding are in less affluent neighborhoods.

Storms Sever California Rail Line—Again
The coast-hugging rail corridor linking Los Angeles and San Diego faces an uncertain future as mudslides once again force part of the line to close.

Texas Reservoirs Reach Dangerous Lows
In some parts of the state, water officials have cut off releases that maintain estuaries and other key coastal habitats.

EPA Drops More Civil Rights Investigations
A lawsuit that halted an investigation in Louisiana’s ‘Cancer Alley’ is having a chilling impact on other environmental justice cases.

How Hot Will 2024 Get?
Experts predict summer temperatures could surpass 2023’s record heat waves, prompting cities to plan mitigation measures.
Pagination
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.
New York City School Construction Authority
Village of Glen Ellyn
Central Transportation Planning Staff/Boston Region MPO
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions