Environment

Can Oakland Lead The Green Economy?

Oakland's new progressive mayor and the Oakland Apollo Alliance are working to turn that city's fortunes around through "green collar" jobs and "green enterprise zones".

December 7, 2006 - Yes! Magazine

Will Insurance Become A Catalyst For Land Use Reform?

Blaming an increasing degree of risk due to climate change, insurance companies are ending the practice of providing flood insurance in many coastal areas, triggering a potentially enormous effect on housing and land use patterns.

December 7, 2006 - The Washington Post

Are Hybrid Car Sales Headed For A Crash?

With gas prices falling and the amount of federal tax credits dwindling, sales of hybrid cars have hit a downward slide.

December 6, 2006 - The San Francisco Chronicle

Interstate Bridge In Atlanta Remade Into Pedestrian-Friendly Mini-Park

Known mostly for paving over everything in sight, the Georgia Department of Transportation has surprised its critics by spending $10 million to retrofit an interstate bridge into a mini-park connecting the Georgia Tech campus.

December 6, 2006 - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Pollution Threat Outweighs Traffic Congestion Concerns

With new road-building measures approved and funded in Atlanta, the debate over what to do about the area's traffic and transportation woes is ignoring the severe health impacts of air pollution.

December 6, 2006 - Creative Loafing

Large Portion Of Amazon Gains Protection In Brazil

More than 57,000 square miles of land in Brazil's Amazon rainforest were recently set aside to be protected from unsustainable logging and development. The area will be the largest protected rainforest area in the world.

December 5, 2006 - BBC

Supreme Court Considers Global Warming Rules Case

The long-awaited Supreme Court case, Massachusetts v. Environmental Protection Agency, No. 05-1120, that will determine whether the EPA should regulate carbon dioxide as an air pollutant from motor vehicles was heard on Nov. 29.

December 1, 2006 - The Los Angeles Times

A Building That Eats Smog

A new church outside Rome designed by architect Richard Meier has been built with a self cleaning exterior that also destroys pollutants in the air.

December 1, 2006 - The New York Times

New Reserve For Florida As Fish Stocks Deplete

The state of Florida has approved a marine reserve area off it's west coast to help counter a recent warning that the world's seafood stocks would be depleted by 2048. The reserve will be the largest in the continental U.S.

December 1, 2006 - The Christian Science Monitor

EPA's Million-Year Regulation

EPA is expected to issue a regulation for Yucca Mountain, Nevada -- the proposed site for a massive nuclear waste repository -- that will extend one million years into the future. A universal warning sign that will last 10,000 years is selected.

November 30, 2006 - National Public Radio

Using Transit Oriented Development As A Global Warming Reduction Strategy

A regional planning agency in the Bay Area is including TOD as a strategy to help the Bay Area meet its AB 32 goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

November 29, 2006 - San Francisco Examiner

Los Angeles Delves Into Urban Forestry

Los Angeles, with one of the smallest arboreal canopies of any major American city, has launched an initiative to plant one million trees over the next few years.

November 29, 2006 - The Planning Report

In California, A River Is Restored

Los Angeles water officials are restoring year-round flow to 62 miles of the Lower Owens River, with hope that the waterway will once again support plant and wildlife and become an eco-tourist attraction for ailing Inyo County.

November 28, 2006 - The Los Angeles Times

Voters Elect Wind Energy Advocate To Congress

Soft-spoken mathematician and wind energy advocate Jerry McNerney defeated Rep. Richard W. Pombo, an opponent of the Endangered Species act.

November 23, 2006 - The Los Angeles Times

Australian Drought Brings Restrictions, Plans For New Sources

As a record-breaking drought leaves Melbourne dry, the government is considering imposing broad restrictions on water use. Water storage levels are now less than 43% and are expected to drop below 30% by March.

November 22, 2006 - The Age

Building Green In Japan As Home Sizes Increase

As its population declines and homes are taking up more space, home designers in Japan are looking to the self-sufficient designs of space stations to guide the development of environmentally sustainable homes.

November 21, 2006 - BBC

Hill May Get Flat Top For Development In Raleigh

This article in North Carolina's Independent Weekly looks at a proposal to chop the top off a historic hill in Raleigh to make way for commercial development. Environmental groups are opposing the plan.

November 21, 2006 - The Independent Weekly (North Carolina)

How To Keep New York Afloat

With sea levels rising, once-a-century floods may become once-in-20-years events. One solution: huge storm-surge barriers.

November 18, 2006 - The Christian Science Monitor

The Best And Worst World Heritage Sites

National Geographic Traveler recently conducted a survey of 419 experts to rank the 830 sites placed on the United Nations' list of natural and cultural treasures known as the World Heritage Sites List.

November 17, 2006 - National Geographic Traveler

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.

Home and Land Services Coordinator

Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners

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.