Environment
Historic Climate Legislation Included in COVID Relief Spending Deal
The $900 billion COVID relief bill along with a $1.4 trillion omnibus bill allowed for the inclusion of unrelated legislation and funding for 2021, from border wall spending to phasing-out some of the most potent greenhouse gas pollutants.
COVID Stimulus Details for Planners
A few last minute changes were included in the version of the COVID-19 Emergency Relief Act of 2020, approved by Congress last night.
Adapting Building Codes to Natural Disasters Saves Billions
New research shows that modern building codes have prevented around $27 billion in damage from natural disasters between 2000 and 2016, yet many cities still operate under decades-old regulations.
Biden Diversifies Cabinet With EPA Administrator, Interior Secretary Picks
President-elect Biden made two historic cabinet selections: Michael Regan, who heads the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, to run the U.S. EPA, and Rep. Deb Haaland of New Mexico, to head the Interior Department.
Transportation Climate Initiative Expected to Cross the Finish Line
Twelve northeastern states and D.C. are expected to sign a new cap-and-investment scheme designed to lower emissions from transportation.
Biden Selects Energy Secretary and New National Climate Advisor
Former Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm, a U.C. Berkeley professor, is Biden's choice to lead the Energy Department. A new position, national climate advisor, will be filled by former Obama EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy, current head of the NRDC.
Robert Bullard Awarded Lifetime Achievement Award by the United Nations
Robert Bullard, distinguished professor of Urban Planning and Environmental Policy at Texas Southern University and author of the seminal book "Dumping in Dixie," has been awared the United Nation's highest environmental honor.
Coastal Louisiana Communities Face Risks from Chemical Plants
Louisiana's chemical plants could release tons of toxic pollution into the air and water during storms, but anti-terrorism provisions make the process of finding risk management information prohibitively difficult.
Top Websites for Urban Planning – 2020
Planetizen's annual list of the best of the planning Internet in a year inextricably defined by the uncertainty and constraints of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Climate Change: The Most Vulnerable States Are the Least Prepared
The effects of climate change will vary depending on geographic location, so it's incumbent on states to prepare in their own, specific way. Not all states are taking that responsibility seriously, according to a new report.
New York State Pension Fund Divests From Fossil Fuels
The announcement this week that the state of New York's employee pension fund would divest from fossil fuel industries sent shockwaves through the industry and the environmentalism movement this week.
Nine Months Later: How the Pandemic Is Changing Communities
Planetizen shares the latest in a series of compendia tackling the effects of the pandemic, now and in the future, for cities and communities.
Lack of Septic Systems Spell Disaster for Low-Income Alabama Residents
Low-income Alabama residents who can't afford the cost of a functional septic tank run the risk of heavy fines and even arrest in addition to extremely unsafe conditions.
Lessons From the Viral Video of Lake Michigan Taking Out a Bike Commuter
Climate change will only increase the frequency of incidents like the one captured by a television news station in Chicago earlier this week.
Building Rural Resilience
Rural areas have been attracting a lot attention for news sources traditionally devoted to urban news and information. A new report from the Brookings Institution is the latest example.
Cars Pollute in More Ways Than One
Tires wear down and shed toxic microplastics into stormwater, which eventually ends up in rivers and the ocean. Recent research sheds new light on the extent of the damage.
On Rent Control and a Green New Deal, Portland, Maine Voters Go Where Others Don't Dare
Rent control was dealt another high-profile setback in California, and the Green New Deal is a hot button issue stuck in limbo in Congress. Both efforts got the go-ahead from voters in Portland, Maine in November.
The Top Urban Planning Books of 2020
The public health crisis of the coronavirus pandemic upended all the normal day-today routines this year. At least there are plenty of great urban planning books to read.
Flooded: How Natural Disasters Lead to Predatory Lending in the Rio Grande Valley
The devastation that communities in the Rio Grande Valley face is twofold: the initial destruction of the floods and the cycle of debt and poverty as a result of predatory loans.
Where Los Angeles Most Needs Trees
Google has unveiled a new tool called Tree Canopy Lab in an effort to keep cities like Los Angeles cool by helping them to know where to plant more trees.
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.
planning NEXT
Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie
