Environment

300% More Oxygen: The Guardian Examines Greenwashing

In a new weekly column, Fred Pearce of The Guardian examines corporate and municipal claims to sustainability.

October 27, 2008 - The Guardian

World's Underground Waters Mapped

UNESCO has released a detailed map of the world's aquifers, a move the organization hopes will enable more intelligent use of natural resources.

October 26, 2008 - New Scientist

Fix America's Infrastructure, Fix the Economy

The next president must commit to fixing our infrastructure, says Dave Demerjian of Wired. Such an investment will create jobs, strengthen our economy and make America more competitive.

October 24, 2008 - Wired.com

Oil Price Plunge Dampens Green Technology

The new 'oil shock' is one of plummeting oil prices and its effect on alternative technologies and energy. Combined with the credit crisis, the fallout in some green technologies is shown by difficulties in attracting capital and customers.

October 22, 2008 - The Washington Post

Climate Change Tackled by Cities and States

Before the fiscal crisis, there was the global climate crisis. After the fiscal crisis, we’ll still have the global climate crisis — for the rest of our lives.

October 21, 2008 - Citiwire.net

Leafy Skyscraper Going Up in Singapore

Construction on architects TR Hamzah & Yeang's EDITT Building (Ecological Design in the Tropics) is underway in Singapore

October 21, 2008 - World Construction

Land Use Reform Tops China Agenda

China's government has announced major changes in property rights for farmers, giving them the ability to 'lease, exchange, or swap' their plots.

October 21, 2008 - The New York Times

Property Rights Redux

Roy Gothie, a planner for the Maryland State Highway Administration, argues that 'only a societal decision to redefine an individual's rights regarding property can restore [Chesapeake Bay].'

October 20, 2008 - Baltimore Sun

EPA Failing to Control Urban Runoff

The Environmental Protection Agency has not done enough to control pollution from stormwater runoff in urban areas, according to a report from the National Academy of Sciences.

October 20, 2008 - Associated Press

Climate Protection Jeopardized By Financial Crisis & Recession

The worldwide credit crisis will affect the ability of the developed world to tackle climate change. Businesses in Europe and U.S. are asking for delays in meeting emission reductions mandates notwithstanding the drop in oil prices.

October 20, 2008 - Wall Street Journal

Report from the Congress For European Urbanism

Faith Cable reports on the CEU's 3rd annual conference, held in Oslo, Norway, which addressed cities and their ability to address climate change through urban design.

October 19, 2008 - WorldChanging

Tesla Laying Off Employees and Delaying All-Electric Sedan

Electric car start-up in Silicon Valley said Wednesday that it would lay off employees and delay production of its second car, the Model S, until 2011.

October 18, 2008 - The New York Times

Chilling in Honolulu

Honolulu is moving ahead with an ambitious plan to use deep seawater as a natural air conditioning for downtown buildings. The system should be in place for up to 40 clients by 2010.

October 18, 2008 - Honolulu Star-Bulletin

HOT & Green Proposal For Illinois Tollway

What do you get when you designate a carpool lane on a toll road for hybrids and carpoolers? A 'green' lane, say Illinois planners. However, they still pay the toll. Now add a "HOT lane overlay" to it - solo drivers can use it for a 'premium'.

October 17, 2008 - Chicago Sun-Times

ARB Climate Change Plan Criticized By Both Sides

The CA Air Resources Board unveiled its final ‘scoping plan’ to meet the climate change targets set in the landmark 2006 law, AB 32. Business groups condemned it for its costs while land use planners criticized it for not doing more to curb sprawl.

October 17, 2008 - San Francisco Chronicle

Amazon Dam Project Moves Ahead

As construction begins on two large dams in the Amazon, thousands of indigenous people grapple with the prospect of the coming flood and the loss of their land, while environmentalists continue to oppose the construction.

October 17, 2008 - The Washington Post

Can 'Ecological Economics' Put an Accurate Price on Ecosystems?

Canada's wide open spaces and clean cities are misleading: its arable land could fit in Montana and most of its dirty manufacturing has moved to Asia. A more accurate economic model is required to account for Canadians' ecological footprint.

October 16, 2008 - The Walrus

Creating A More Wildlife-Friendly Interstate

Roads are to blame for interfering with and "boxing in" various animals' migratory patterns, sending ecologists on the hunt for new solutions to get wildlife moving.

October 15, 2008 - The New York Times

Branding Sustainability

Las Vegas' Union Park is a LEED-certified development that sits on a revitalized brownfield, but with no shortage of Vegas' glitz. Can smart growth be as marketable as it is environmentally good?

October 14, 2008 - Next American City

Wasting Resources and Destroying History

Preservation of iconic buildings is important for historical reasons as well as environmental one, according to actress and preservationist Diane Keaton.

October 14, 2008 - Los Angeles Times

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.

Associate/Senior Planner

Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development

Senior Planner

Heyer Gruel & Associates PA

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.