Environment
Over 500 NYC ‘Blue Zones’ at Risk of More Destructive Floods
High-risk flood zones cover roughly 20% of the city’s land.
Downtown Salt Lake City Skyscraper Cleans the air Around it
The newly built Astra Tower filters air for its own residents and for the city.
Atlanta Flood Prevention Efforts are Causing ‘Climate Gentrification’ in its Black Communities
New infrastructure in neighborhoods that have borne the brunt of seasonal floods is making them safer — and more expensive.
Rural Ohio is Reconsidering its Laissez-Faire Zoning Culture as Data Centers Threaten Local Resources
There are at least 10 data center proposals in the pipeline in southeast Ohio.
Florida Farm Bill Blocks Local Bans on Gas-Powered Tools
The law also paves the way for agricultural uses on land previously designated for conservation.
Why Climate Resilience Stalls — and how to fix it
When it comes to preparing cities for the disastrous impacts of climate catastrophes, there is a gaping chasm between ambition and implementation. Here’s what we’ve learned from spending our days trying to close it.
Urban Honeybees are ‘Having a Moment’ — but it’s not all Milk and Honey
The European honeybees kept by many businesses and schools often compete with local pollinator species.
Seattle Creates 4 ‘Low-pollution Neighborhoods’
The pilot program is designed to reduce air pollution and increase access to transit and safe walking and biking infrastructure.
LA’s Tree Canopy is Nearing a ‘Point of Failure’
Calls to 311 for “tree emergencies” are rising, endangering a resource that helps bring down urban temperatures and reduce air pollution.
Study: Building More Forest Roads Would Quadruple Fire Risk
The administration plans to rescind the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule, which protects close to 60 million acres of national forest lands from road development.
LA County to Make ‘Historic’ $78M Investment in Parks
A record $78+ million in Measure A funding advances park access, health, and climate resilience in communities that need it most.
Provo Rejects Data Center Rezoning Proposal
The Utah city voted against a proposed data center after hearing community concerns about environmental and economic impacts.
Memphis Data Center Will Harness Wastewater for Cooling
The xAI-owned Colossus facility uses as much water as 10,000 households.
Road Salt has Increased Chloride Levels in the Potomac by 85%
A common winter road clearing technique is having major impacts on waterways.
US Transit Fleets Have Bought Over 8,000 Zero-emission Buses
The number of zero-emission transit vehicles grew by 16 percent between 2024 and 2025.
Invasive Beetle has Killed Over 200,000 Southern California Oak Trees, Raising Wildfire Risk
The rapid spread of the Goldspotted Oak Borer is killing hundreds of thousands of oak trees, undermining habitat and increasing wildfire danger across Southern California.
‘Builder’s Remedy’ Housing Project on Yosemite Border Draws Opposition From Locals, Environmentalists
Local residents are raising questions about a proposed 110-unit development in an isolated region adjacent to the national park.
Washington Urban Forestry Program Faces 'Existential' Budget Cut
A proposed budget eliminates funding for a key urban forestry program that funds greening efforts across the state.
LA is Using 500 Goats to Clear Vegetation on Olympic Practice Fields
Grazing as a wildfire prevention tool is one of the most eco-friendly ways to clear dry brush and remove invasive plants.
California Seals 21 Urban Oil Wells in South LA After Decades of Activism
The permanent closure of a long-troubled South Los Angeles oil site marks a hard-fought victory for residents and underscores the growing urgency of addressing hazardous idle wells in communities nationwide.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
planning NEXT
City of Thousand Oaks
City of Wisconsin Rapids
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA)
The Pocatello Development Authority
The Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Pocatello
