Climate Change

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Burlington Vermont

Running on 100 Percent Renewables, Burlington Shows the Way Forward

The city of Burlington, largest in the Green Mountain State, is the only city in the U.S. to provide electricity from entirely renewable sources, notwithstanding criticism from some environmentalists. PBS Newshour Weekend investigates.

February 1, 2015 - PBS NewsHour

Haitians Lay Foundation for Hope 5 Years After Earthquake

Despite what some see as slow progress five years after an earthquake rocked Haiti, architect and sustainability consultant Dave Hampton writes about how he and others see hope for the future.

January 21, 2015 - UrbDeZine

New Methane Emission Regulations Aim for 45 Percent Reduction by 2025

President Barack Obama hopes to add to his "climate legacy" by having the EPA adopt the nation's first regulations to reduce methane emissions, the second most prevalent greenhouse gas emission after carbon dioxide, but far more powerful.

January 15, 2015 - Los Angeles Times

Rising Seas Create a Catch-22 for Miami Development

Miami is in a race against time to build defenses against climate change and rising sea levels—resilience projects that require property tax revenue generated from luxury developments built in the areas most at risk.

December 31, 2014 - The Washington Post

Street in La Laguna, Canary Island Tenerife, Spain

Top Planning Trends – 2014

A deeper look at the traffic data on Planetizen reveals trends from the planning and urban design conversation of 2014.

December 31, 2014 - James Brasuell

Could Keystone XL Become the Next Casualty of Falling Oil Prices?

Recently we noted that Chevron had dropped their Arctic lease due to falling oil prices. With falling gasoline prices, Americans may no longer see the Keystone XL pipeline as urgent. In addition, President Obama appears likely to oppose the project.

December 26, 2014 - The Wall Street Journal

International Climate Accord Reached in Lima

Known as the Lima Accord, after the capital of Peru where representatives from 200 nations met for two weeks, a deal was reached to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in preparation for talks to be held in Paris in December. But is it strong enough?

December 16, 2014 - The New York Times

A New Era in California for Evaluating Transportation Emissions

An appellate court's rejection of SANDAG's $200 billion sustainable communities plan holds far-reaching implications for how regional planners evaluate greenhouse gas emissions from transportation to meet SB 375 requirements to the year 2050.

December 8, 2014 - San Diego Union-Tribune

Ivy Covered Green Building

The Coolest Buildings Aren't Green

Creating 'greener' buildings will help address climate change... right?

December 5, 2014 - YouTube

Brazil's Insight on Climate Change Adaption

A new report from the World Resources Institute illustrates how Brazil is preparing its cities to deal with climate change.

December 4, 2014 - The City Fix

The United Nations Studies Urban Emissions Monitoring

Urban emissions researchers have been invited to speak at the UN Climate Conference in Lima. Their findings: through focused and networked monitoring, cities can make real inroads on cutting carbon.

December 3, 2014 - Next City

Report Aims to Reinvent the MTA; Critics Say it Misses the Mark

After Capital New York leaked an early draft of the report by a MTA Transportation Reinvention Commission, critics are wondering if the commission is living up to its titular promise.

November 26, 2014 - Capital New York

Study Complicates Relationship of Population Growth, Emissions Reduction

More people translates to more emissions, right? Cut back on population growth and you'll reduce emissions and the threat of climate change, along with other environmental woes—it's a no-brainer. Or is it?

November 16, 2014 - The Washington Post - Wonkblog

Will the Historic Climate Accord Survive the U.S. Political Process?

While environmentalists were hailing the historic carbon emissions reduction agreement between the leaders of the United States and China, the world's two largest emitters, Republican leaders wasted no time in slamming the accord.

November 13, 2014 - CBS News

U.S.-China

Climate Change Targets? No Problem! We Have Win-Win Solutions

Ambitious new emission reduction targets can be met with strategies that also help achieve other economic, social, and environmental objectives.

November 13, 2014 - Todd Litman

Breaking News: China and U.S. Agree to Emissions Reduction Plan

A surprise, groundbreaking agreement between China and the United States was unveiled in Beijing at the end of the APEC conference, providing hope that the world can reduce the threat from climate change.

November 12, 2014 - NPR

Op-Ed: Reintroduce California's Historic Restoration Tax Credit

Despite a veto by Governor Jerry Brown, California’s Assembly Speaker Toni Atkins should keep trying to pass legislation to encourage preservation, says Bay area preservation architect Jerri Holan.

October 24, 2014 - UrbDeZine

The Incredible Climate Mitigation Potential of Compost

Research has shown that the world's largest land use, grazing, holds enormous potential when linked with composting, to dramatically reduce the carbon content of the atmosphere through sequestration while concurrently restoring degraded rangeland.

October 20, 2014 - San Francisco Chronicle

Report: Expect Regular Coastal Floods Within 15 Years

Climate change and rising seas will mean higher flood risks for cities. But when exactly will impactful flooding become a regular occurrence? New analysis by the Union of Concerned Scientists says that time is fast approaching.

October 17, 2014 - Climate Central

Adapting to Rising Seas in Boston with Venice-Style Canals

The latest example of a coastal city designing urban resilience as both amenity and infrastructure—a plan to build Venice-style canals in Boston.

October 2, 2014 - The Boston Globe

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.

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.