Environment

Low-saturation image of a concrete schoolyard with basketball hoop

'Greening' L.A.'s Schoolyards

Advocates for increasing green space on school campuses say giving students a more healthy outdoor environment can also reduce the urban heat island effect and improve public health in historically underserved communities.

March 29, 2022 - Los Angeles Times

Washington State Electric Car Infrastructure

New 'Human-Centered' EV Charging Stations Aim To Improve User Experience

Volkswagen-owned Electrify America plans to make its new charging stations more user-friendly with solar panel awnings and waiting lounges.

March 28, 2022 - The Verge

The cover of the AARP Walk Audit Tool Kit shows silhouettes of people crossing a street.

Free From AARP: Walk Audit Tool Kit and Worksheets

AARP recently published an all new, 28-page, image-filled guide—and 11 downloadable worksheets—for how to assess and report on the safety and walkability of a street, intersection, or neighborhood.

March 28, 2022 - AARP

A river runs blue through the red rocks of the desert.

Fifty Years After the Clean Water Act, Half of U.S. Waters Are Unsafe for Humans and Fish

A study of U.S. waterways shows that around half of lakes, rivers, and streams in the U.S. are too toxic to swim or fish in.

March 28, 2022 - High Country News

Texas Wind

Outdated Electric Grid Could Hamper Texas Transition to Renewables

Although Texas easily has the potential to phase out coal with the renewable energy projects in the works around the state, its aging transmission lines and outdated infrastructure could delay the transition.

March 25, 2022 - Fortune

An image of stadium seats at Petco Park in San Diego, with new buildings under construction nearby in the background.

What Is a Density Bonus?

A density bonus offers development permissions beyond what's allowed by a zoning code as an incentive for developers to contribute to desired policy goals. Density bonus programs can offer numerous forms of incentives, and can be used as an incentive to address a variety of policy goals.

March 24, 2022 - James Brasuell

Floodplain

FEMA Flood Mitigation Initiative Will Pay Homeowners To Move

The Swift Current grant program will distribute $60 million to homeowners in high-risk counties to help pay for flood mitigation measures or relocation.

March 24, 2022 - Grist

View from the summit of Hazard Peak in Montana de Oro State Park, San Luis Obispo County, California

Chumash Tribe Opposes Offshore Wind in Proposed Marine Sanctuary

Environmentalists decry the proposed wind farm as harmful to the fragile ecosystem of the Central California coast.

March 24, 2022 - Los Angeles Times

Oil Drills

Sanctioning Russian Energy Exports

European leaders chose not to join the U.S. in an embargo of Russian energy products largely because of dependence on natural gas. Similarly, the world needs the 11% of crude oil that Russia exports. What can the U.S. do to lessen this dependence?

March 24, 2022 - Rhodium Group

Electric Car Charging Stencil

EV Charging Stations Gaining Ground

High gas prices are prompting more cities to invest in electric car charging infrastructure.

March 23, 2022 - The Bakersfield Californian

treepeople_la_093

Five Ways to Build a Sustainable Community through Volunteering

Practicing sustainability can improve communities and the lives of those living there. One of the best ways to encourage sustainable living is through volunteering.

March 23, 2022 - Devin Partida

Irrigiation Channel

Booming Arizona Must Confront its Water Problem

Even as more people and companies flock to the state for its climate and economic opportunities, Arizona's water supplies are facing historic shortages.

March 22, 2022 - Circle of Blue

Drought

NOAA Expects U.S. Drought To Continue and Spread

Low rainfall and unusually high temperatures are contributing to worsening drought conditions in more than half of the continental United States.

March 21, 2022 - The New York Times

Downtown Cincinnati, Ohio

Cincinnati To Electrify Municipal Fleet by 2035

The city of Cincinnati will beef up its efforts to shift to renewable energy starting next week with electric police cars, fire trucks, and other city vehicles.

March 18, 2022 - Cincinnati.com

Burj Khalifa

We Now Can Build Really Tall Skyscrapers. But Why?

The new book Super Tall, by architect and writer Stefan Al, explains how the new generation of skyscrapers are built and how they fit into their respective urban fabrics.

March 18, 2022 - CommonEdge Collaborative

Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuge

Mapping Biodiversity Risk

A partnership of researchers has created the most detailed map yet of the places where biodiversity is most at risk in the United States.

March 17, 2022 - The New York Times

California Wildfire

Housing Affordability and Worsening Wildfires: Twin Crises

As wildfires grow more destructive, how far should states go to protect homes located in high-risk areas?

March 17, 2022 - The Atlantic

Wastewater California

What Is CEQA?

Designed to assess the environmental impacts of new projects and provide mitigation measures, the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) has a controversial history, sometimes serving as a convenient tool for groups intent on stopping or slowing development.

March 16, 2022 - Diana Ionescu

Mountain Lion

Opinion: Conservation and Affordable Housing Can Coexist

Encouraging denser development in urbanized areas is an effective way to protect sensitive flora and fauna from human encroachment.

March 15, 2022 - Ventura County Star

Vacant Lot

The Importance of Unintentional Nature in Cities

A new book argues in favor of spontaneous, informal natural spaces.

March 14, 2022 - Bloomberg CityLab

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.