San Francisco's Business Council on Climate Change serves as a 'convener' between municipal government and the private sector to tackle issues related to climate change. Writer Andrew Wade spoke with the Council's executive director, Michael Parks.
When and why was the Business Council on Climate Change formed?
It came about initially in 2005, when San Francisco hosted World Environment Day. That’s a United Nations initiative. Essentially, the UN Global Compact put a challenge to San Francisco to come up with an interesting approach to addressing a pressing environmental issue.
The discussion around climate change was really just getting started on a national level at that time. Early 2006 was when climate change was on the cover of every magazine — that was the year An Inconvenient Truth came out. So San Francisco responded to the UN challenge by putting together a pretty open-ended forum to discuss what it should do about climate change. People from the City spent time working with stakeholders to figure out what meaningful action would look like. They decided that a place for government and business to work together on climate issues would be really useful.
FULL STORY: To meet climate change goals, San Francisco tries networking
Beyond the Big One: Real Recovery in San Francisco
What does it mean to be a Chief Resilience Officer for one America's largest cities? Doggerel spoke to Patrick Otellini, Chief Resilient Officer for San Francisco, to find out what it takes to make a truly resilient city.
Report: Embarcadero Needs to Rise 7 Feet to Resist Sea-Level Rise
A bombshell report details the adaptation measures that will be necessary to keep San Francisco's Embarcadero high and dry as the climate changes and sea levels rise.
Opinion: High-Rises Won't Sink San Francisco
The weight of large buildings may not be a major threat to coastal cities, despite recent claims.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Congressman Proposes Bill to Rename DC Metro “Trump Train”
The Make Autorail Great Again Act would withhold federal funding to the system until the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), rebrands as the Washington Metropolitan Authority for Greater Access (WMAGA).
The Simple Legislative Tool Transforming Vacant Downtowns
In California, Michigan and Georgia, an easy win is bringing dollars — and delight — back to city centers.
The States Losing Rural Delivery Rooms at an Alarming Pace
In some states, as few as 9% of rural hospitals still deliver babies. As a result, rising pre-term births, no adequate pre-term care and harrowing close calls are a growing reality.
The Small South Asian Republic Going all in on EVs
Thanks to one simple policy change less than five years ago, 65% of new cars in this Himalayan country are now electric.
DC Backpedals on Bike Lane Protection, Swaps Barriers for Paint
Citing aesthetic concerns, the city is removing the concrete barriers and flexposts that once separated Arizona Avenue cyclists from motor vehicles.
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.
Smith Gee Studio
City of Charlotte
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
US High Speed Rail Association
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)