This article from the Guardian looks at the feasibility of putting in place a recently-announced proposal to make Britain carbon-neutral by 2050.
"The Lib Dems' proposals still need to be approved by party members at next month's conference. But flicking through this vision of life in Britain if we were actually able to reduce carbon emission by 100% makes you realise quite how much political movement there has been on these issues in the past few years. Which mainstream party, after all, would have dared to talk about making it compulsory for cars to be free of carbon emissions by 2040, or establishing personal carbon allowances not just in Britain but across the world, or capping airport capacity at today's levels? The Lib Dems' policy document is about as bold as a mainstream party is likely to go in today's political scene."
"Is it really possible to achieve a zero- carbon Britain, given what we already know of our current lifestyle addictions - flying, driving, heating and shopping - and enslavement to an oil economy? And what would it be like to live in such a place? In essence, what the Lib Dems (and, to be fair, some of the more green-minded Conservative and Labour politicians) are proposing is that we move towards a so-called 'pay as you burn' world. Every service or product we purchase - be it a mini-break, a television, or bottle of wine - would have its full carbon cost 'internalised', as economists like to say. If you have a taste for a carbon-rich lifestyle, you would be highly taxed accordingly. As a carrot to go with this stick, those choosing to live a 'carbon-neutral' lifestyle would be rewarded with far lower taxes and other inducements. For example, the Lib Dems say they would encourage zero-carbon home building through initiatives such as cheaper "green mortgages". Significantly, the Lib Dems say their green taxes (a term that, so far, the Conservatives dare not utter) would be "revenue neutral" too - rises in one area would be accompanied by cuts elsewhere."
"'Localism will become the buzzword,' says Mark Lynas, the environmentalist and author of Six Degrees: Our Future on a Hotter Planet. 'It is technically possible to achieve a zero-carbon Britain by 2050 as we are blessed with abundant renewable resources, especially off-shore wind in the shallow North Sea.'"
FULL STORY: Is a zero-carbon Britain possible?
Pennsylvania Mall Conversion Bill Passes House
If passed, the bill would promote the adaptive reuse of defunct commercial buildings.
Planning for Accessibility: Proximity is More Important than Mobility
Accessibility-based planning minimizes the distance that people must travel to reach desired services and activities. Measured this way, increased density can provide more total benefits than increased speeds.
Fair Housing Cannot Take a Back Seat to ‘Build, Baby, Build’
If we overlook fair housing principles in the plan to build US housing back better, we risk ending up right back where we started.
LA Metro Board Approves New 710 Freeway Plan
The newest plan for the 710 corridor claims it will not displace any residents.
Austin’s Proposed EV Charging Rules Regulate Station Locations, Size
City planners say the new rules would ensure an efficient distribution of charging infrastructure across the city and prevent an overconcentration in residential areas.
Making California State Parks More Climate-Resilient
A recently released report offers recommendations for keeping state parks healthy and robust, including acquiring additional land for conservation and recreation.
City of Costa Mesa
Licking County
Barrett Planning Group LLC
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Tufts University, Department of Urban and Environmental Policy & Planning
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
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.