Environment

COVID-19 City

What Can Lessons From Traffic Safety Teach About the Covid Response?

Finger waggings aren't effective for pedestrian safety—so why should they work for public health? A "safe system" approach, created for traffic safety in Sweden, offers a model for improved pandemic public health outcomes, according to this opinion.

December 28, 2021 - Angie Schmitt

Downtown Phoenix

To Combat Rising Heat Deaths, Phoenix Creates Heat Response and Mitigation Office

As more extreme temperatures lead to an alarming rise in heat-related deaths across the country, Phoenix is taking action with the nation's first public heat response office.

December 26, 2021 - High Country News

Magellanterassen at HafenCity, Hamburg, Germany

Living With Flooding in a German Port Town

A riverside neighborhood in Hamburg embraces flooding as part of its resilience planning, using old techniques to protect modern communities.

December 24, 2021 - Bloomberg CityLab

Larimer Square

Colorado To Prioritize Climate Impacts in Transportation Projects

Under new state regulations, Colorado transportation projects will be required to reduce GHG emissions and promote more sustainable transportation modes.

December 22, 2021 - Denver Post

Los Angeles Protected Bike Lane

Opinion: Los Angeles Must Prioritize Bikes and Buses

L.A. has a plan for improving mobility. Why are city leaders ignoring it?

December 21, 2021 - Los Angeles Times

Highway Construction

Federal Memo 'Gently' Discourages Highway Construction

The Federal Highway Administration is urging states to prioritize climate-friendly projects and put federal funds toward repairs and active transportation infrastructure.

December 21, 2021 - Wired

D.C. Metro

Study: D.C. Region Must Take Aggressive Steps To Reach Climate Goal

To achieve its stated emissions reduction goal, the Greater Washington area must sharply reduce driving and speed up the adoption of electric vehicles.

December 21, 2021 - Greater Greater Washington

Joe Biden exits a limousine, surrounded by security and staffers, on the way to the Marine One helicopter on a pad near the water in New York City.

Biden's New Tailpipe Emissions Rule Resets to Obama Administration Standards

The Biden administration finalized greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions standards for passenger cars and light trucks that almost fully erased changes by the Trump administration that, in turn, erased a rule finalized by the Obama administration.

December 21, 2021 - The Washington Post

Trump supporting insurrectionists scale the walls of the U.S. Capitol Building on January 6, 2021.

Year in Review: Urban Planning in 2021

Part one of two of Planetizen's review of 2021—re-assessing failed predictions and daylighting the biggest planning stories of the year.

December 20, 2021 - James Brasuell

Bend, Oregon

Oregon DOT Projects Little Decline in Driving Despite Climate Pledge

Financial projections from the state's Department of Transportation suggest the agency does not anticipate a marked reduction in driving in the next decade.

December 17, 2021 - Willamette Week

Natural Resources Conservation Service's Wetlands Reserve Program

Bay Area Developments at Risk From Sea Level Rise

A controversial proposed housing development in Newark exemplifies the struggle between increasing housing supply and protecting vulnerable shoreline communities from flooding.

December 17, 2021 - KQED

Large pickup trucks are parked in neat rows extending into the fuzzy background of the image.

Friday Funny? Cartoon Lampoons the Growing Size of Trucks and SUVs

The Nib takes on the latest trend in car culture: massive vehicles.

December 17, 2021 - The Nib

Utah

Utah Debates Solutions to Water Shortage

With a rapidly growing population and strained water supplies, Utah lawmakers and conservation groups debate how to best replenish the state's water sources.

December 16, 2021 - High Country News

Looking out over Port of LA. A low fog rolling in over the whole area.

Port Logjam Contributing to Dismal L.A. Air Quality

Emissions from container ships idling outside Southern California's ports are adding to pollution that has blanketed the region in a noxious layer of smog.

December 16, 2021 - Curbed

Air Pollution

New Research on the Disparate Impacts of Air Pollution in the U.S.

Researchers at the University of Washington published a new study of the disparate impacts of air pollution in the United States

December 15, 2021 - The Washington Post

Climate Change

Climate Change Is All Around

A massive interactive feature published by the New York Times tells 193 stories—for 193 countries—to illustrate the ravages of climate change in every corner of the globe.

December 15, 2021 - The New York Times

Sunstar electric bikes displayed during the japanese festival in Geneva on the 7th october 2012

Why Are U.S. Policymakers Ignoring Electric Bikes?

The singular focus on EVs is making U.S. cities miss out on the opportunity to promote e-bikes as a more efficient and sustainable transportation mode.

December 14, 2021 - Treehugger

The Kern River passes through a steep river canyon filled with jagged rocks and surrounded by hills of golden grass.

Bringing the Kern River Back to Bakersfield

Bring Back the Kern is working to restore recreational flows to the Kern River in Bakersfield (cue Merle Haggard).

December 13, 2021 - Los Angeles Times

Electric Cars

Study: EV Adoption Isn't Enough. Car-Centric Culture Needs To Change.

The focus on electrifying personal vehicles misses the opportunity to transform urban transportation systems, reduce congestion, and make cities more affordable.

December 13, 2021 - Fast Company

Puget Sound

Puget Sound Transportation Plan Fails To Meet Emissions Goals

A draft regional transportation plan for the Puget Sound region does not go far enough to significantly reduce emissions and meet climate goals.

December 12, 2021 - The Urbanist

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.