Building an Ecotopia

Richard Louv of the San Diego Union-Tribune cites examples and best practices in green urbanism. The second in a series of articles on the Green City movement.

1 minute read

June 1, 2004, 8:00 AM PDT

By Connie Chung


Louv discusses examples from Western Europe, including towns in the Netherlands, Switzerland and Sweden, on various strategies to "protecting regenerating nature" -- from greenroofs, green walls and reconnecting neighborhoods through bikeways, to daylighting sreams, purchasing urban farms, greening school facilities, and more. He writes: "...green urbanism in Western Europe proves that an alternative urban future is possible and practical, giving hope to pioneers in San Diego and other American cities, who agree...that cities should be 'sheltering; cleansing of air, water and spirit; and restorative and replenishing of the planet, rather than fundamentally extractive and damaging.' "

Thanks to Connie Chung

Sunday, May 30, 2004 in The San Diego Union-Tribune

"Planetizen federal action tracker" logo superimposed over black and white image of US Capitol dome.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

October 28, 2026 - Zachary Whalen

A car drives through a puddle, making a large splash. Rain pours down.

California plans to bury El Niño’s downpour

If the state plays its cards right, it may be able to store a billion acre-feet of El Niño’s water in aquifers.

October 28, 2026 - Grist

Lake Powell with much of the water evaporated.

Desperate measures: Advocates weigh draining Lake Powell to fill Colorado River

Draining the reservoir could reduce evaporation losses by a couple hundred thousand acre-feet.

October 30, 2026 - Yale Environment 360

Mamdani behind a microphone, in front of a snowbank

Mamdani’s pied-à-terre tax survives legal challenge

A panel of judges found that the plaintiffs failed to demonstrate injury as a result of New York City's implementation of the tax.

November 6 - CNN

A road in north eastern Nebraska with power lines on either side, and grassy fields.

Eastern Nebraska is running out of electricity

Data centers and electrification are straining eastern Nebraska’s grid, throttling economic development.

November 6 - Grist

People board a bus in Seattle.

Seattle passes record-breaking transit services expansion

Proposition 1 will double the city’s transit tax to add 95,000 more bus trips and preserve 180,000 bus trips annually.

November 6 - KOMO News

FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?

After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.

Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold

The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.