Environment

Understanding Rachel Carson

Rachel Carson is credited with launching the modern environmental movement with her landmark book "Silent Spring". Her work was attacked by the chemical industry. One hundred years after her birth, her critics are back.

November 5, 2007 - PBS - Bill Moyers Journal

Water Waste Turns Deadly

An elderly man watering his lawn in drought-stricken Australia was recently berated by a passerby for wasting water. A fight then broke out and the man was beaten to death.

November 5, 2007 - Reuters

Corps Plan Will Reduce Water Flow Out Of Georgia

The states of Georgia, Alabama, and Florida have come to an agreement that will reduce the flow of river water out of Georgia as droughts have turned the three states against each other in a battle over limited water resources.

November 4, 2007 - Reuters via Environmental News Network

Greening China's 'SuperBlocks'

Rapid economic and physical development are posing problems for China's environment. But a new eco-friendly development model may soon replace the heavily resource-reliant "SuperBlock" development pattern.

November 4, 2007 - GreenBiz

Connecting The Dots In Coastal Planning And Design

Climate change and rising sea levels will greatly threaten many of the world's cities and should be considered when planning and designing for coastal areas. But this article argues that planners and designers haven't yet "connected the dots".

November 2, 2007 - Harvard Design Magazine

The Fire Last Time...And The Time Before That And The Time Before That...

In this reprinted excerpt from his 1999 book The Ecology of Fear, Mike Davis recounts the fire-prone history of Malibu and shows that development there has succumbed to repeated disastrous fires.

November 2, 2007 - Radical Urban Theory

Is Carbon Trading Just Corporate Greenwashing?

Proponents say carbon trading is an essential market-based strategy for combating global warming while critics argue that it provides cover for corporate polluters.

November 1, 2007 - Democracy Now!

Neighbor Of Thirsty Georgia Faces No Water Restrictions

Droughts are causing many Georgia municipalities to tightly restrict water use, but just across the border in Alabama is a city that has plenty of water to spare.

November 1, 2007 - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Seattle Hits Kyoto Targets

Seattle has shown that Kyoto Protocol-level reductions in greenhouse gases are practical and achievable, and won't hurt the economy. But with car use rising, much more needs to be done.

November 1, 2007 - The Seattle Times

Think About Site And Climate Before Approving Projects

In response to the latest Southern California wildfires, site locations and climate must be more carefully considered by the people who build and approve subdivisions, writes Christopher Hawthorne.

October 31, 2007 - The Los Angeles Times

Lake Superior Threatened By Development

The health of Lake Superior is facing a serious threat from pollution and runoff caused by development along its shores, according to a panel of scientists.

October 31, 2007 - Associated Press via Minneapolis-St. Paul Star-Tribune

Water Limits Northeast Florida Growth Beyond 2030

Groundwater supplies in Northeast Florida may only be able to support growth until 2030, when demands on water will overshoot available resources.

October 30, 2007 - The Florida Times-Union

Report Claims More Transit Means Fewer Emissions

A government report claims that greatly expanding Britain's transportation infrastructure will not work against its goal of reducing carbon emissions, but will actually help push transit technology to be more environmentally-friendly.

October 30, 2007 - The Guardian

Analysis of LEED for Neighborhood Development Pilot Projects

Criteron Planners, a certification reviewer for the LEED for Neighborhood Development program, offers its analysis of LEED-ND pilot project locations and areas.

October 29, 2007 - Criterion Planners

Survey Reveals Americans Preference For Transit Development

A new survey from Smart Growth America notes that three-fourths of Americans think improving public transportation is a better long term solution than building roads.

October 28, 2007 - Smart Growth America

Earth Headed For Environmental 'Tipping Point'

A recent 540-page report from the United Nations outlines the mega-problem of climate change, warning that failure to act may cause irreversible damage.

October 27, 2007 - The Windsor Star

Making Communities 'Fire Smart'

Canada has already seen devastating urban forest fires, and some communities are preparing for the worst by adopting "FireSmart" principles into their bylaws.

October 27, 2007 - Canadian Broadcasting Corporation

The Sustainability Century

Leading climate change scientist Tim Flannery talks about impact of global warming, the silencing of science, micro wind turbines, geothermal energy, compressed-air cars and what the California fires have in common with those in Greece and Australia.

October 26, 2007 - Democracy Now

Tackling Climate Change With Land Use

This opinion piece looks at how technology alone can't be depended on to solve the environmental threats of climate change. Land use and development patterns must also be addressed.

October 26, 2007 - The San Francisco Chronicle

Environment Faces Sacrifice As Alberta Explores Oil Reserves

Oil reserves in Canada have the mouths of investors watering, and many Canadians willing to accept the vast environmental degradation that will result from the oil's extraction.

October 25, 2007 - OnEarth

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.