Environment
Dam Project Revives Struggling Aral Sea
Since the late-1960s, an irrigation project have been slowly draining the entire Aral Sea, located on the border between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. But a new dam project is bringing the sea's water back, and with it the fish that support the region.
How The West Can Win: Transforming The Energy Debate
Western states are leading the nation in innovations to build a clean-energy economy.
The Ugly Colors Of Green Power
Getting power generated from eco-friendly renewable energy sources in rural to energy-hungry urban areas requires transmissions lines that are harmful to the environment.
LEEDing the Way?
As the U.S. Green Building Council responds to critics and prepares its green rating system for massive changes, some say we must ask what more should be done to improve the process.
Agriculture Goes Vertical And Green
With visions of a reforested America in which food is grown locally year round, vertical farms aim to address many of the problems facing mankind, including global warming, runoff, desertification, water pollution, and rapid urbanization.
New Water Classifications May Benefit Polluters
The Florida State Department of Environmental Protection is moving forward with plans to reclassify many of its waters based on their potential harm to humans. Some say the reclassifications open the door for corporate and agricultural polluters.
Catastrophic Drought 50 Years Away For Southwest
Using sophisticated climate models, scientists are predicting a 15 percent loss of surface moisture by 2050. They suspect, but cannot conclude, that global warming is to blame.
Planning And TOD To The Rescue
This column from The San Francisco Examiner describes how "urban planning can save the world", and identifies transit-oriented development as a major solution to global warming.
Booming Town Seeks Water From Reluctant Neighbor
An 11-year drought in the Southwest U.S. has a growing small town in Nevada looking to pump water from nearby Beaver Dam, Arizona. Many in the Arizona town are upset over the proposed water-snatch, which they say limits their own ability to develop.
Deer In The Big City
As suburban sprawl spreads in upstate New York, more deer are finding their way into the five boroughs of New York City. Some have called for signs to alert drivers, but others say the movement patterns of the deer aren't consistent enough for signs.
Fiesta On The Sandy Shores Of Mexico City
For those who can't get to the coast, tons of sand have been trucked into a park in Mexico City, where residents flock to spend a day at the "beach". But critics see the effort as a wasteful in a city where many residents still have no running water.
Water Worries In Australia
Severe water shortages have hit Australia in recent years, and they are showing no signs of subsiding. The government has cracked down on waste, but many scientists say that global warming is the underlying cause of the shortage.
Massive Flooding Drowns Online World
To raise awareness of global warming, a massive sea level change was staged in the online virtual reality world "Second Life" that flooded areas such as London and Tokyo -- similar to what scientists predict could occur within this century.
Western States Scramble For Water
Western states suffering from prolonged drought get proactive about water problems in the face of increasing demand. Projects include desalinization plants and a 280-mile pipeline to Las Vegas, but the fight over water is escalating.
Island's Water Supply And Land Threatened By Warming
Global warming is causing significant long- and short-term problems for the highly populated Mediterranean island of Malta, many parts of which would be submerged by rising sea levels, and whose water supply would be contaminated by sea water.
The Not-So-Evergreen State
Widespread development in Washington has changed the landscape of the state from forests to houses. Experts are predicting a further loss of more than 300,000 acres of forests within the next several years.
Increase In Open Space For Portland Region
The regional government in Portland, Oregon, has set its sights on buying up thousands of acres of scenic lands for open space and parks. The voter-approved buy is part of a plan to improve many of the region's public spaces.
Bush's Forest Management Plan Ruled Illegal
Federal forest management policy changes made by the Bush administration have been ruled illegal for not making proper environmental impact considerations.
What Is The Risk Of Climate Change To Your Home?
A new web tool offers a way to check the climate risk of individual homes. The service is a collaboration between a private firm and three University of Arizona scientists.
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.
planning NEXT
Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie
