Environment

Lake Powell

Lake Powell's Houseboat Launches Running Dry

Record low water levels are sinking Lake Powell's houseboat industry as climate change threatens water supplies in the West.

August 5, 2021 - The Guardian

Hoover Dam

How Extreme Heat Threatens the Electrical Grid

Higher demand for electricity and lower capacity for production due to more intense heat waves are straining the power grid and causing concern for future energy production.

August 5, 2021 - High Country News

Climate Change Protest

The Climate One-Two Punch

Like a boxer, cities are wielding their one-two punch in the fight against climate change. One punch aims to protect people from the oppressive heat, while the second punch strikes at the source of global warming by reducing overall GHG emissions.

August 2, 2021 - Robert Fischer

Water slides at Slide & Splash, Lagoa, Portugal

Do Water Parks Belong in the Desert?

Three planned Phoenix-area developments have drawn criticism for wasteful water use, but how do water parks compare to other municipal uses?

August 2, 2021 - AZ Central

Los Angeles, California

Creating a New Park as a Space of Hope and Healing

The County of Los Angeles is allocating funding to help transform a former foster youth facility into a new community park in El Monte, one of the most park-poor cities in the county.

August 2, 2021 - Supervisor Hilda Solis

 on I84 in Northern Oregon…one hand on the wheel and one on the shutter, at 75 mph

In Extreme Heat Waves, Cities Need 'Social Resilience' to Help the Most Vulnerable

This summer's heat waves wreaked havoc on physical infrastructure, but also highlighted vulnerabilities in our social support systems.

July 30, 2021 - The Washington Post

Pioneer Square, Seattle

Tree Equity Score: The U.S. Needs 522 Million More Urban Trees

As climate change intensifies the urban heat island effect, poorer neighborhoods bear the brunt of tree canopy inequity.

July 28, 2021 - The Urbanist

Rendering of the proposed Liberty Canyon Wildlife Corridor

California Wildlife Crossings Get New Funding

The state is budgeting $61 million to build wildlife crossings that increase biodiversity, help species thrive, and save both human and animal lives.

July 28, 2021 - CALmatters

A water-pipeline in the foothills west of Ridgecrest, CA

Water Thieves are Compromising California's Water Supplies

Theft by illegal marijuana grow operations is straining California's already dwindling water supplies and endangering local communities as authorities lock hydrants and restrict access to water sources.

July 27, 2021 - CALmatters

Diablo Canyon Nuclear

Opinion: Replacing Nuclear Plants Amounts to 'Treadmill Decarbonization'

Shutting down one form of clean energy with plans to replace it with another keeps us running in place, or worse, falling behind on decarbonization goals.

July 25, 2021 - The Breakthrough

Portland, Oregon street

Redlined Neighborhoods Suffer More From Extreme Heat

The recent heat wave in the Pacific Northwest highlighted how historical inequities still affect the health and well-being of low-income and marginalized communities.

July 23, 2021 - Atmos

Glen Canyon Dam

Colorado River Dams Could Stop Producing Hydropower

Officials are releasing water from upstream reservoirs as water levels in the river's major reservoirs fall to historic lows.

July 22, 2021 - KUNC

Los Angeles Sunset

Los Angeles County Gets a C+ on Sustainability Report Card

UCLA released a report about how land use, biodiversity, and looming environmental threats affect the health and well-being of Los Angeles County residents.

July 21, 2021 - UCLA Newsroom

I-71 I-70 Columbus OH

The 'INVEST in America Act' Would Help States Kick the Highway Habit

While Congress debates its bipartisan infrastructure deal, a House-approved bill, the INVEST in America Act, waits in the wings with the potential to alter the direction of transportation planning in the United States.

July 20, 2021 - Politico

Dockweiler State Beach

U.S. on Track to Reduce Emissions by 2030, Report Says

The latest edition of the Rhodium Group's "Taking Stock" report accounts for the uncertainties of Covid-19 recovery while charting the trends in U.S. greenhouse gas emissions.

July 20, 2021 - Rhodium Group

Crude Oil Train

The World's Economic Bailout Came With Huge Environmental Costs

The world collectively spent on $17 trillion economic stimulus during the pandemic. The vast majority of that spending will make climate change and other environmental pollution much worse.

July 19, 2021 - The Guardian

Texas Flood

Flood Buyouts Exacerbate Inequality in Harris County, Texas

New research shows that less affluent households disperse farther to find affordable homes, leading to a loss of community and social capital.

July 19, 2021 - Rice Kinder Institute for Urban Research

A little girl running in the beautiful Descanso Garden in Los Angeles, California.

Reimagining One of Los Angeles County's Most Popular Gardens

Learn more about the new Descanso Gardens Master Plan which is visionary, thoughtful, comprehensive, and visually stunning.

July 16, 2021 - Parks & Rec Business

Chicago, Illinois

Chicago Faces its Own Climate Challenges

Historically stable Lake Michigan has seen its water levels fluctuate dramatically over the last decade, posing increasingly urgent threats to lakeside property and causing severe droughts and flooding.

July 16, 2021 - New York Times

Oil and Gas Extraction

Biden Administration's Energy Hypocrisy Exposed

World Oil, an energy publication, slightly annotated a Bloomberg News article to expose the hypocrisy of the Biden administration: curtailing oil production at home while pushing to increase it abroad.

July 15, 2021 - Bloomberg Quint

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.