Environment

Germany Loosens Its Carbon Emission Restrictions

Germany is straying from the European Union's stated goals of compliance with the Kyoto Protocol by postponing emission reduction requirements for some of the country's largest and most polluting industries.

June 30, 2006 - International Herald Tribune

North Carolina Wetlands Protected, For A Moment

A recent change in the method of calculating the size of developable land took the state's wetlands out of the acreage. The result could have been vastly expanded stormwater-runoff infrastructure requirements for developers. But it wasn't.

June 30, 2006 - The Raleigh-Durham Independent Weekly

Exploring New York City - A Multimedia Journey

A resident of New York City offers multimedia impressions of the city, its modes of transport, and environmental history.

June 30, 2006 - alexreisner.com

Coal And America - Book Review Of 'Big Coal' By Jeff Goodell

Author Jeff Goodell writes of the price paid for the extraction and burning of coal, from mining accidents and blacklung disease affecting miners, to air pollution downwind of power plants, and finally, the global warming affecting the planet.

June 29, 2006 - The New York Times

Geoengineering: Futuristic Solutions for Global Warming

Giant orbiting sunshades, floating plastic islands, and other "far-out" ideas for addressing global warming deserve a serious look, say some of the world's prominent scientists.

June 28, 2006 - The New York Times

U.S. Supreme Court Enters Global Warming Debate

The case could be one of the most important environmental case heard by the court.

June 28, 2006 - The Los Angeles Times

The Nexus Between The Built Environment And Public Health

Los Angeles' new Planning Director Gail Goldberg, and California Endowment head Dr. Robert Ross discuss how to build healthy communities through smart planning.

June 26, 2006 - The Planning Report

Environmental Law Halts Bike Plan In San Francisco

A 1970 environmental law, the California Environmental Quality Act, was used to temporarily halt San Francisco's bike plan from being implemented. The law ensures environmental review of projects that plaintiff's felt was inadequate for the plan.

June 26, 2006 - The San Francisco Chronicle

The Scar Inflicted On China By Coal Mining

Coal mining in northern China is ravaging many of its villages. Mining goes on without regard to the environmental destruction it causes and the devastating effects on China's rural villages.

June 26, 2006 - The New York Times

Global Warming Confirmed?

A new National Academy of Sciences report may have confirmed a disputed 1998 climate change study showing that the last few decades were the warmest ever recorded; yet it hasn't settled the issue as to whether man's activity is causing the change.

June 25, 2006 - The Washington Post

Urbanization's Toll On The Environment

The general consensus is that urbanization has had a negative effect on the environment, though its extent is difficult to define. Pollution is a common measure, and though some urban areas' air qualities are improving, others are falling far behind.

June 24, 2006 - BBC

Reducing Ecological Footprints In A House Of Hay

One man's Connecticut home has no electricity, heating, air-conditioning, running water, or even conventional walls. He's made a structure of hay and stucco his home for 20 years, and his meager lifestyle causes little or no harm to the environment.

June 24, 2006 - The Hartford Courant via The Chicago Tribune

Report Affirms Earth Temperature 'Hockey Stick' Graph

A report requested by the U.S. Congress validates the theory that the earth has grown hotter in the last century.

June 23, 2006 - BBC News

Sliver Of Chinese Land Diminishes As Deserts Encroach

Deserts on each side are moving in on one of few agriculturally viable pieces of land in Northern China's Minqin county. Thousands have been displaced as sands engulf land and the food it once grew.

June 23, 2006 - The New York Times via International Herald Tribune

Developing The Un-Park In San Francisco's Presidio

A stream of high-dollar developments have been popping up in San Francisco's Presidio, a former Army base and currently the only park in the National Park Service's collection that is operated privately. Some feel the developments don't fit the site.

June 23, 2006 - The San Francisco Chronicle

Radio Report Looks At Improving L.A. River

From increasing riverside parks to removing the concrete riverbed, many ideas for improving the Los Angeles River have been simmering for years. This radio report introduces many in the city who are calling on planners to revive the forgotten river.

June 22, 2006 - Living on Earth

Supreme Court Wetlands Decision: Depends On Your Point Of View

The Supreme Court rules that the federal government does not have the power to reach far upstream to protect every wetland in a watershed. Depending on your choice of news source, the decision protects the environment, or limits regulation.

June 21, 2006 - Christian Science Montior

Louisiana Island Has That Sinking Feeling

A small Louisiana island community faces the inevitability of losing their homes to the ocean, while the federal government plans a levee system that will exclude them.

June 21, 2006 - The New York Times

Study Links Urban Universities To Global Change

In the context of the World Urban Forum, a Canadian columnist says that the "higher education industry" could be the most important industry in the world, and could have a dramatic impact on the relationships between cities worldwide.

June 21, 2006 - The Toronto Star

'Murky' Supreme Court Decision Limits Clean Water Act

Major environmental decision by the U.S. Supreme Court could limit the federal government's protection of wetlands.

June 20, 2006 - The San Francisco Chronicle

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.