Environment

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

Oil Pipeline

Supreme Court Clears Way for Pipeline to Cross the Appalachian Trail

The U.S. Supreme Court resolved a question of permitting jurisdiction to clear the way for the $8 billion Atlantic Coast Pipeline to tunnel underneath the Appalachian Trail.

June 16, 2020 - The Hill

Glen Canyon Dam

Environmental Impact Statement for Lake Powell-to-Utah Water Pipeline Released

Paiute Indians in Arizona oppose a plan to pipe Colorado River water from Lake Powell in Arizona to St. George in Utah, according to documents released by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.

June 12, 2020 - The Salt Lake Tribune

Coronavirus Protest

Debating the Future of Cities After the Coronavirus, Volume 3

The third installment of an ongoing, curated list of a particularly contemporary genre of urbanism punditry.

June 10, 2020 - James Brasuell

Louisville, Kentucky

Pollution, Place, and the Unnecessary Tragedy of Premature Death: Lessons for COVID-19

In Louisville, scene of multiple instances of police violence in recent weeks, low-income and Black populations living in neighborhoods dealing with decades of industrial pollution are now suffering the worst public health outcomes of COVID-19.

June 9, 2020 - Gregory D. Squires

Wine Country Fires

Budget Crunch Threatens California's Climate Resilience Plans

Facing a massive budget due to the declining revenues created by the coronavirus pandemic, California will have to cut a program intended to retrofit homes and roofs as a protection against wildfire, among other climate resilience programs.

June 9, 2020 - North State Public Radio

Coronavirus and Homelessness

Reports Offers COVID-19 Recovery Guidance for Struggling Communities

Communities struggling with the economic, social, and health realities of the 21st century must start planning now to mitigate the worst outcomes of the coronavirus pandemic, according to a new report from the Center for Community Progress.

June 9, 2020 - Center for Community Progress

Calatrava Bridge, Dallas

North Texas Cities Organize Regional Recovery Efforts

A consortium of cities and regional organizations have created the new nonprofit known as the North Texas Innovation Alliance.

June 8, 2020 - The Dallas Morning News

Climate Change

Racial Equity and Urban Climate Action

Equity is hardly mentioned in most urban climate action plans, but a few cities, like Austin, Texas, are leading the charge to center in equity in both the process and content of climate planning.

June 7, 2020 - Joan Fitzgerald

Freeway Construction

Trump to Suspend Environmental Regulation for Economic Emergency

Reports from the White House indicate that the Trump administration is planning to rollback federal environmental protections to expedite highway and other projects.

June 5, 2020 - The Washington Post

Washington D.C. Protest

Could Greenhouse Gas Emissions Be Added To COVID-19's Casualty List?

As the world rebounds from the first wave of coronavirus, and countries around the globe prepare to spend trillions of dollars for stimulus, should the funds be earmarked to flatten the climate curve?

June 3, 2020 - Robert Fischer

U.S. Department of the Interior

Water Supply Inadequacies Tied to Coronavirus Infection in the Navajo Nation

On May 24, the Navajo Nation had 4,658 reported cases and 165 deaths in a population of 173,000—more even than New York City—while local organizers scrambled to find the water to cover the need during the pandemic.

June 3, 2020 - Outside

Caribbean Hurricane Season

Coronavirus a Major New Complication for Extreme Weather Events

Climate change might not allow the relief from the pandemic that many have been hoping for as the country enters the summer months, as evacuations during the hurricane, tornado, and fire seasons will take on new elements of risk.

June 2, 2020 - Inside Climate News

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.