This piece from National Geographic looks at how green roofs are sweeping across the tops of buildings all over the world.
"The urban roofscape is a little like hell-a lifeless place of bituminous surfaces, violent temperature contrasts, bitter winds, and an antipathy to water."
"Living roofs aren't new. They were common among sod houses on the American prairie, and roofs of turf can still be found on log houses and sheds in northern Europe. But in recent decades, architects, builders, and city planners all across the planet have begun turning to green roofs not for their beauty-almost an afterthought-but for their practicality, their ability to mitigate the environmental extremes common on conventional roofs."
"To stand on a green roof in Vancouver-or Chicago or Stuttgart or Singapore or Tokyo-is to glimpse how different the roofscapes of our cities might look and to wonder, Why haven't we always built this way?"
"...There is beginning to be a critical mass of green roofs around the world, each one an experiment in itself."
FULL STORY: Up on the Roof

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

USGS Water Science Centers Targeted for Closure
If their work is suspended, states could lose a valuable resource for monitoring, understanding, and managing water resources.

Congress Moves to End Reconnecting Communities and Related Grants
The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee moved to rescind funding for the Neighborhood Equity and Access program, which funds highway removals, freeway caps, transit projects, pedestrian infrastructure, and more.

Poor Conditions in Mobile Home Parks Put Residents at Risk
Failing infrastructure, poor water and air quality, and predatory owners endanger the health of manufactured home residents, many of whom are elderly and low-income.

How Complete Streets Stands to Lose in the FY26 ‘Skinny Budget’
The President’s proposed budget could cut key resources for active transportation, public transit, and road safety programs.

Dairy Queen and Rural Third Places
Dozens of Dairy Queen restaurants across Texas are closing, taking a critical community space with them.
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