Climate Change

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Foreign Investors Driving Up Housing Costs, Creating Zombie Communities

A slew of analysis in recent weeks has examined the negative consequences of foreign real estate speculation in cities like New York City, London, and Vancouver.

May 23, 2014 - The New Yorker

Lawsuit Puts Climate Change Preparation Onus On Cities

A class-action lawsuit filed by Farmers Insurance Co. against the city of Chicago raises questions on municipal responsibility to prepare against 'foreseeable risk.'

May 22, 2014 - The Washington Post

Bi-Partisan Energy Efficiency Bill Stalls while Obama Pushes Initiative

A bi-partisan Senate bill to dramatically reduce carbon emissions by increasing energy efficiency got caught-up in Keystone XL pipeline politics, while President Barak Obama pursued his own energy efficiency agenda at a Walmart in Mtn. View, Calif.

May 12, 2014 - NPR

Climate Change Impacts all of U.S., warns National Climate Assessment

For the third time since 2000, the federal government has issued a National Climate Assessment, as mandated by Congress in 1990, to “understand, assess, predict, and respond" to climate change. The report was approved by President Obama on Tuesday.

May 6, 2014 - The New York Times

Coal Mining and Power Station

Climate Change: a Global Commons Problem

A quick city planner's guide to the voluminous Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report out earlier this month.

May 2, 2014 - PlaceShakers

Time Running Out for Climate Change Action, Warns IPCC

In its second major report since 2007, the U.N. panel's report was not all bad news. It noted that while nations may be slow to agree to climate treaties, city and state governments have written their own climate plans along with the private sector.

April 15, 2014 - The New York Times - Environment

As the Seas Rise, Cities 'Dither'

The world’s coastal cities now face an impossible situation as a result of climate change. While the impacts and catastrophes become inevitable, why do cities like San Francisco dither rather than act?

April 14, 2014 - SPUR

Climate Change Harms People, not just Polar Bears, Warns IPCC in Exhaustive Report

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) issued a follow-up report to another in September that focused on the cause of climate change. The report released Monday focuses on the disruption that climate change will cause human society.

April 2, 2014 - Slate

Extreme Weather Could Replace Climate Change as Focus of Federal Agency

A bill sponsored by Rep. Jim Bridenstine (R-Okla.) whose state has suffered the ravages of recurrent tornadoes would direct the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to research predicting extreme weather events in lieu of climate change.

March 31, 2014 - The Hill: E2 Wire

Keystone XL Dealt a Setback in Court—But Not from the Usual Suspects

The lawsuit comes from three private landowners who successfully sued to prevent their properties from being seized so that TransCanada can lay their pipeline—turns out the state Legislature was in too much of a rush in 2012 to approve the project.

February 21, 2014 - The Wall Street Journal - U.S.

Obama Picks Up the Resilience Buzz with $1 Billion Fund Proposal

President Obama is in California today to pitch a $1 billion “resilience fund” to help communities dealing with the weather impacts of climate change—including the state’s current drought.

February 14, 2014 - The Hill

Michael Bloomberg's New International Roles on Cities and Climate Change

The former three-term New York City mayor, already president of the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group has been appointed to a special United Nations envoy position on cities and climate change by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

February 8, 2014 - Reuters

Debate Continues Over Benefits of White Roofs

Researchers at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory recently completed an economic analysis of white roofs versus their green and black counterparts. The debate over the relative merits of white versus green roofs is far from over, however.

February 5, 2014 - Inhabitat

Pollution from China Doesn't Stay There

A new study reveals two findings on air pollution spewing from China's coal-burning factories. First, the pollution blows to the U.S and other nations. Second, 20% of the pollution can be traced to Western demand for cheap goods from those factories.

January 22, 2014 - Los Angeles Times - Science Now

Environmental Groups Revolt Over Obama's Energy Strategy

Already under pressure from the fossil-fuel industry and Republicans over new environmental regulations, the Obama administration is facing a challenge from 18 of the nation's leading environmental groups over its "all of the above" energy strategy.

January 17, 2014 - The Washington Post

New Study Challenges 2 Degree Climate Change Cap

New studies published this week challenge the 2 degree Celsius global warming threshold and call for an early warning system to monitor climate shifts.

December 4, 2013 - Grist

Global Insurance Firms offer Resiliency Tools to Climate Risk Cities

"Building Climate Resilience in Cities" was developed by global insurers and non profits to offer tools and technical assistance to urban areas facing development changes in response to climate change risks.

November 24, 2013 - Canadian Underwriter

Former Leaders Backtrack on Climate Commitments

In order to stave off the worst climate change scenarios, experts have recommended that the world's countries must aggressively expand their efforts to limit greenhouse gas emissions. Some surprising countries are headed in the opposite direction.

November 22, 2013 - Grist

Injustice Becomes a Focus of Climate Negotiations

In the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan, the unequal impacts of climate change have become a focus of discussions at an international climate conference in Warsaw. The most vulnerable (often poor) nations are demanding compensation from developed ones.

November 18, 2013 - The New York Times

The Super Typhoon and Climate Change

The head of the Philippines delegation at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Warsaw suggests climate change is responsible for Typhoon Haiyan. Is he right? Quartz investigates the connection.

November 12, 2013 - Quartz

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.