Los Angeles has a heat problem, and it's getting worse. But the Mayor's Office is taking on the challenge.
The Los Angeles Office of Sustainability is partnering with local universities on a plan to lower the average regional temperature by three degrees over the next 20 years.
Achieving that goal could reduce energy consumption, improve air quality, and prevent deaths caused annually by extreme heat. The Los Angeles Times looks into how much progress the city needs to make on science and policy to get there.
A variety of factors go into L.A.'s temperatures, but one well-known problem scientists are focusing on is the urban heat island effect: the phenomenon by which cities tend to be warmer than their surrounding areas because of heat absorbed by the built environment.
Over the years Los Angeles has tried, at different scales, a number of common approaches to this problem, including cool pavements and cool roofs, sustainably designed parks, and thoughtful urban forestry.
But because the effects of a heat island can be "hyper-local," its solutions have to be, too—sometimes varying "block to block." In one neighborhood, scientists tested different heat mitigation techniques in a computer model that accounted for every single tree and building.
FULL STORY: L.A.’s mayor wants to lower the city’s temperature. These scientists are figuring out how to do it
Improving South Los Angeles Through Strategic Tree Planting
The University of Southern California Urban Trees Initiative is planting 250 trees in South L.A. neighborhoods to improve shade, combat climate change, and enhance community well-being through collaboration and data-driven approaches.
Climate Change Will Be Worse for Big Cities
Blame it on the urban heat island effect.
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.
Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.
Bend, Oregon Zoning Reforms Prioritize Small-Scale Housing
The city altered its zoning code to allow multi-family housing and eliminated parking mandates citywide.
Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.
LA Denies Basic Services to Unhoused Residents
The city has repeatedly failed to respond to requests for trash pickup at encampment sites, and eliminated a program that provided mobile showers and toilets.
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.
planning NEXT
Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie