Environment

Mountlake Terrace, Washington

House Committee Calls for Stronger Federal Role in Planning to Deal With Climate Change

The new "Solving the Climate Crisis" report could provide guidance and direction if federal leadership in Washington, D.C. finally decides to take aggressive steps to reduce carbon emissions and adapt to a changed climate.

July 9, 2020 - American Planning Association

Helena, Montana

CDC Sued to Force Release Racial Demographic Data on Coronavirus Spread

Systemic racism is blamed for the glaring and tragic racial disparities of the COVID-19 illness in the United States.

July 9, 2020 - The New York Times

Global warming and pollution

The Post-Pandemic Economy Could Be Dirtier Than Ever

The environmental gains at the beginning of the pandemic were only temporary., and there are signs more signs every day that the economy will be dirtier than ever in the future.

July 8, 2020 - National Geographic

Dakota Access Protest

A Bad Day to Be a Pipeline: Judge Shuts Down Dakota Access; Atlantic Coast Pipeline Canceled

Two of the most controversial pipeline projects in the United States were dealt massive blows within the span of 24 hours.

July 6, 2020 - Bismark Tribune

Coronavirus Social Distancing

Does Density Aggravate the COVID-19 Pandemic? Early Findings and Lessons for Planners

A new study finds that county density is not significantly related to the infection rate, but higher density counties have significantly lower virus-related mortality rates than those with lower densities, possibly due to superior health care.

July 2, 2020 - Journal Of The American Planning Association

COVID-19

GIS Community Brings Maps to the Coronavirus Fight

Data-Smart City Solutions at the Harvard Kennedy School is monitoring the use of GIS technology to inform the public health response to the coronavirus pandemic.

July 1, 2020 - Data-Smart City Solutions

Environmental Justice

A Plan for a 'Just Green Recovery'

The Rhodium Group charts a path toward an economic recovery plan that would also achieve social and environmental benefits.

July 1, 2020 - Rhodium Group

Volunteers

Advocates: Equity Lacking in the New Houston Climate Action Plan

Advocates and local residents are expressing concern about a lack of direct support in the Houston Climate Action Plan for underserved neighborhoods that have already experienced some of the worst effects of climate change.

July 1, 2020 - One Breath Partnership

kayak

Water Recreation Brings $18 Billion Annually to Colorado

Water recreation is an important contributor to the state's economy. A recent report found that water-related activities contribute an annual $18 billion to the state's economy.

June 30, 2020 - The Denver Post

Chicago Extreme Weather

New Study Reveals Massive, Unaccounted Flood Risk

The Federal Emergency Management Agency undercounts the humber of homes at substantial risk of flooding by some 70 percent, according to a report released this week.

June 30, 2020 - The Washington Post

Port of Los Angeles

Emission-Free Heavy-Duty Trucks Requirements Approved in California

California is the first state to require manufacturers to produce zero-emission medium- and heavy-duty trucks.

June 29, 2020 - NRDC

Vinings, Cobb County

Stacey Abrams Leads New Effort to Mobilize Climate Action in the U.S. South

The South has some catching up to do on implementing plans to curb carbon emissions and prepare for climate change, but the region, collectively, has a lot of reasons to do so.

June 29, 2020 - The Washington Post

Protesting racism

Anti-Racism at the Neighborhood Level

Communities across the country need to dismantle exclusionary barriers and rebalance spending to invest more equitably across neighborhoods, according to this article by the Urban Institute.

June 24, 2020 - Urban Institute

Aerial views during an Army search and rescue mission show damage from Hurricane Sandy to the New Jersey coast, Oct. 30, 2012.

The 30-Year Mortgage Faces an Unprecedented Threat: Climate Change

The climate crisis will present more of an existential crisis to the traditional U.S. mortgage market than any previous financial crisis, according to some of the experts cited in the article.

June 23, 2020 - The New York Times

Scottsdale, Arizona

Lower Colorado River States Used Less Water in 2019 Than Any Year Since 1986

The states drawing water from the Colorado River's lower basin—California, Arizona, and Nevada—used less water from the river in 2019 than any year since the mid-1980s.

June 22, 2020 - Circle of Blue

Florida Sign - Welcome to Florida

Model Predicts Next U.S. Coronavirus Epicenter

For the third consecutive day, COVID-19 cases in the Sunshine State have set records, exceeding 4,000 for the first time. PolicyLab in Philadelphia now predicts Florida will be the epicenter of the pandemic in the U.S. by mid-July.

June 22, 2020 - WTSP-TV

Pollution

The Trump Administration's Environmental Policies Have Consequences for Black Lives

A Trump administration decision not to tighten Clean Air Act restrictions on soot pollution will have more consequences for Black Americans.

June 21, 2020 - Vox

COVID-19

CDC Documents Racial Disparities of COVID-19 Illness

New data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides the federal government's most complete picture of the demographic data of COVID-19 illness.

June 21, 2020 - Yahoo News

Park Rendering

Community Park Addresses Open Space, Air Quality Disparities in L.A.

Lou Calanche and Esther Feldman discuss the Natural Park at Ramona Gardens, a green solution project to improve air quality and community health in one of the most polluted neighborhoods in Los Angeles.

June 17, 2020 - The Planning Report

Sherman, Texas

Pandemic Data for Planners

The right data will be critical in crafting effective responses to the threats posed by the coronavirus.

June 16, 2020 - Kayla Matthews

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.