While the east coast suffers through a brutal early summer heat wave, researchers in Los Angeles have announced the findings of the most advanced regional climate modeling ever conducted, which shows that So Cal will feel the heat soon enough.
Released this week, "Mid-Century Warming in the Los Angeles Region", which researchers at UCLA are calling "the most sophisticated regional climate study ever developed," shows that "climate change will cause temperatures in the Los Angeles region to rise
by an average of 4 to 5 degrees Fahrenheit by the middle of this
century, tripling the number of extremely hot days in the downtown area
and quadrupling the number in the valleys and at high elevations."
"That's the bad news," writes Damien Newton. "The good news, even by acting locally there is
something that L.A. can do....Today, the City released Adapt LA [PDF],
a fact sheet outlining what principles the city must embrace to both
prepare for higher temperatures and work to keep them as low as
possible, and C-Change LA , its new
climate change website. AdaptLA has four major components: 1)
science-based evaluation of the impacts of climate change; 2) assessment
of the vulnerability of and risks to City infrastructure and assets; 3)
regional collaboration; and 4) public engagement."
The C-Change website outlines the types of things homes and businesses can do to assist in minimizing and responding to climate change. Speaking this week, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa
outlined some of the ways to keep the city cool: "That could mean replacing
incentives with building codes requiring 'green' and 'cool' roofs, cool
pavements, tree canopies and parks."
"'Mid-Century Warming in the Los Angeles Region' is the first of five
planned studies [UCLA climate expert Alex] Hall will conduct for the city and the LARC about how
climate change will affect the Southland. Hall's team plans to develop
similarly comprehensive models for local rainfall, Santa Ana wind
patterns, coastal fog (including June gloom), and soil moisture, run-off
and evaporation."
Read the full story: The Keys to Beating, or at Least Fighting, Climate Change: Bikes, Transit, Parks, Trees
LA County Adopts First Heat Action Plan
LA County has adopted its first Heat Action Plan, a long-term, people-centered framework to reduce heat risks, protect public health, and adapt communities, homes, and public spaces to a hotter and more dangerous climate.
From Planning to Action: How LA County Is Rethinking Climate Resilience
Chief Sustainability Officer Rita Kampalath outlines the County’s shift from planning to implementation in its climate resilience efforts, emphasizing cross-departmental coordination, updated recovery strategies, and the need for flexible funding.
Report Outlines Strategies for Resilient Wildfire Recovery in LA
Project Recovery offers a roadmap for rebuilding more sustainable and climate-resilient communities after wildfires and other disasters.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
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.
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.
Los Angeles just elected an urban planner as its mayor
Transportation analysts are optimistic that Raman will be more aggressive in addressing transit issues than Bass.
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.
Eastern Nebraska is running out of electricity
Data centers and electrification are straining eastern Nebraska’s grid, throttling economic development.
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.
City of Rosemead
Rutgers University, Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
One Hundred Miles
University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS)
Hunter College, City University of New York (CUNY)
The Architects Foundation
City of Cambridge
Montrose County
The Pocatello Development Authority