With the signs of climate change all around, the effects of the Trump administration's environmental regulation rollbacks look increasingly dire.

Nadja Popovich and Brad Plumer share the news about a new report by the Rhodium Group that quantifies the effect of the Trump administration's environmental rollbacks in terms of climate emissions. In total, the Trump administration's environmental rollbacks will emit an additional 1.8 billion metric tons of climate emissions equivalent to carbon dioxide by 2035.
The article includes infographics that provides scale to the data revealed by the report, including a breakdown of emissions by type—methane for oil and gas operations, methane for landfills, hydrofluorocarbons, fuel efficiency standards, and removing California's vehicle emissions authority. The two largest sources of emissions enabled by Trump administration policies are the methane for oil and gas operations, at 592 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent, and the California vehicle authority, at 573 million metric tons.
For perspective, Popovich and Plumer report that the total 1.8 billion metric tons of carbon is more than the combined emissions of Canada, Germany, and Britain. The article also notes that the report only accounts for some of the potential effects of Trump administration environmental policies: more changes are still in the works, like the Energy Department's "plans to change federal rules that would have required more efficient light bulbs," and the decision to repeal and replace the Obama-era Clean Power Plan. "It is unclear what effects [the Clean Power] move will ultimately have," according to Popovich and Plumer. "Many states have been retiring coal plants and shifting to cleaner alternatives recently — because of the falling cost of natural gas, wind and solar power — and were already beating the targets set by the Obama-era rule."
Additional coverage of the Rhodium report is available from Ben German for Axios.
FULL STORY: What Trump’s Environmental Rollbacks Mean for Global Warming

In Most U.S. Cities, Archaic Laws Limit Roommate Living
Critics argue laws preventing unrelated adults from living in the same home fail to understand the modern American household.

Ten Signs of a Resurgent Downtown
In GeekWire, Chuck Wolfe continues his exploration of a holistic and practical approach to post-pandemic urban center recovery, anchored in local context and community-driven initiatives that promote livability, safety, and sustainability.

Transforming Downtowns Into Functional Neighborhoods
Rather than ‘monofunctional’ business districts or urban playgrounds, American downtown districts could become multipurpose neighborhoods.

An Equity Approach to Lead Pipe Replacement
A former Chicago health commissioner calls on governments to prioritize the most marginalized and historically disinvested communities when distributing funding to replace lead pipes, which have taken the highest toll on the health of disadvantaged c

Supreme Court Limits Clean Water Act’s Power
A recent ruling ‘dramatically’ restricts the law’s reach when it comes to protecting wetlands.

Albany Freeway Ramp Reimagined as Park, Trail
An underused freeway exit ramp is now an inviting linear park that connects the city to the Hudson River.
City of Bellevue
Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission
Code Studio
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Montrose County
Knox County
Wichita-Sedgwick County Metropolitan Area Planning Department
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.