Environment

Climate Change: Science, Politics, And The Media

Kerry Emanuel, professor of meteorology at MIT, recognized by Time magazine one of the world’s 100 most influential people, writes about the complex challenge of addressing global warming.

January 28, 2007 - Boston Review

Tackling Both New Orleans' Recovery And Climate Change

Ed Blakely, New Orleans' recently named recovery czar, will have his hands full as a research fellow studying climate change as he manages the city's planning and reconstruction.

January 26, 2007 - AP via The Times Picayune

Chef Burns U.S. Farm Bill

A New York chef lays in on the policy failures, lost local economies, damaged environments, and the bland food that have resulted from the U.S. Farm Bill, which will have its every-half-decade facelift in Congress this year.

January 21, 2007 - The New York Times

Labor Unions And Republican Conservationists Join Forces To Protect Wildlife Habitat

An unlikely group of Republicans and Democrats, the Union Sportsman's Alliance, will be formed on Jan. 23 to protect lands in the Rocky Mountain West for hunting and fishing that are largely threatened because of energy exploration.

January 20, 2007 - The Washington Post

In Oklahoma, Residents Prepare To Move From Superfund Site

Residents of Picher, Oklahoma, must leave the town contaminated by lead and zinc mines. Although contaminated since the 1970s, only recent threats of cave-ins have convinced hold-outs to leave.

January 20, 2007 - The Washington Post

Town's Recreation Tourism Bid May Sacrifice Environment

The town of Ogden, Utah, hopes to beef up its economy by promoting itself as an outdoor recreation capital. But some in the community fear that the tourism campaign may further encourage exploitation of the area's decreasingly pristine environment.

January 19, 2007 - E, The Environmental Magazine

The Solution For Stormwater? Letting It Sink In

Natural drainage techniques reduced engineering costs in one South Carolina case study by 31 percent over conventional methods. New Urbanists are searching for ways to make this the norm.

January 19, 2007 - New Urban News

Nature Writers Should Explore The Urban Wilderness

One urban dweller calls on nature writers to take a look at Los Angeles, and other cities, in order to regain relevance in today's world.

January 19, 2007 - Grist

Before Building The Future, Developers Must Dig Up The Past

With more and more infill sites being developed, environmental due diligence on potential development sites has become the norm, partly due to the insistence of lenders and municipalities.

January 17, 2007 - The Globe & Mail

Wetland Protections Worry Farmers In New Jersey

A master plan proposed to protect almost a million acres of wetlands in New Jersey is meeting opposition from area farmers who fear the plan's limitation on development and certain farming practices will render their land worthless.

January 15, 2007 - WFMZ-TV

Small Town Pushes For Housing On Protected California Delta

A small Delta town near Sacramento is pushing a state commission to loosen barriers on development in an area set aside in the '90s to protect agricultural land, the area's migratory bird life, and water resources that provide for much of the state.

January 15, 2007 - The Sacramento Union

Think Global, Act Urban

Despite all the problems associated with urban sprawl and city growth, Christopher Flavin of the environmental research group Worldwatch Institute says they hold the key to solving climate change in this audio report from Marketplace.

January 14, 2007 - Marketplace

Will Thick Smog Ruin The 2008 Olympics in Beijing?

Given a history of environment problems, some wonder if the 2008 Olympics in Beijing will showcase the world's worst pollution as well as world-class athletes? A marathon runner dies as the City's pollution index hits 149 (100 is unhealthy).

January 12, 2007 - Knowledge@Wharton

California Governor Proposes New Fuel Regulation To Fight Global Warming

Hailed by many as setting a new fuel standard to reduce carbon emissions and questioned by others as to its effect on smog levels and gas prices, the new regulation will reduce the carbon content of transportation fuels 10% by 2020.

January 12, 2007 - The San Francisco Chronicle

Can Existing Buildings Be Renovated 'Green'?

While using green building practices has become popular in new construction, the same is not true for renovation projects.

January 11, 2007 - The New York Times

Auto Emissions In Europe Increasing Along With Sprawl

In Europe, vehicular emissions are increasing while emissions from industry and the population growth rate decline. More people throughout the world are driving, especially in those countries where the "newly rich" enjoy their new mobility.

January 10, 2007 - The New York Times

Seoul's River Restoration Becomes A Model For Many Cities

The restored Cheonggyecheon river, which once was reduced to a sewer capped by a six-lane highway, now serves as a focal point for urban recreation in the South Korean capital.

January 10, 2007 - Mail & Guardian Online

City of Many Smells

In October 2005, New Yorkers were smelling pancakes all over the city; on Monday another mysterious unknown smell was being widely reported across the city.

January 8, 2007 - CNN

Boats or Floating Trailer Park?

"Aqua Lodge" houseboats docked at a marina are houses according to Virginia state agencies. But they are boats according to the Tennessee manufacturer.

January 8, 2007 - Richmond Times Dispatch

El Nino and Global Warming: A Dangerous Combination?

An interview with Greenpeace USA executive director, John Passacantando on the unusually warm winter in Northeast, Exxon Mobil's funding of global warming skeptics, and the squelching of the views of U.S. government scientists on climate change.

January 8, 2007 - Democracy Now

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.