Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Protesters holding signs calling for clean air and water.

EPA Guts Emissions Regulations

The agency is eliminating the endangerment finding that underpins the agency’s authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions.

February 12, 2026 - CNBC

Blue :clean energy" bus blurred passing on city street.

FTA Kills ‘Social Cost of Carbon’ in Transit Grant Criteria

The Capital Investments Grant program will no longer factor in the future impacts of carbon emissions.

November 20, 2025 - Progressive Railroading

Door of government building with gold Environmental Protection Agency title.

EPA Plans “Largest Deregulatory Action” in History

The agency plans to repeal a key 2009 rule that underpins the government’s authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions.

August 3, 2025 - The New York Times

Large pile of unsorted garbage in landfill with birds flying above at sunrise or sunset.

Colorado Landfills Emit as Much Pollution as 1M Cars

Landfills are the third-largest source of methane pollution in Colorado, after agriculture and fossil fuel extraction.

June 3, 2025 - Colorado Newsline

View of cars in traffic from behind with visible tailpipe emissions

House Moves to Rescind California’s Emissions Standards

The state has been allowed to set its own emissions goals, including a mandate to transition to electric or zero-emissions vehicles by 2035.

May 5, 2025 - Streetsblog California

Close-up of white panel at top of school bus with "100% electric" black text.

Driving Equity and Clean Air: California Invests in Greener School Transportation

California has awarded $500 million to fund 1,000 zero-emission school buses and chargers for educational agencies as part of its effort to reduce pollution, improve student health, and accelerate the transition to clean transportation.

April 30, 2025 - California Air Resources Board

Yellow electric school bus with preteen students exiting.

California Invests Additional $5M in Electric School Buses

The state wants to electrify all of its school bus fleets by 2035.

April 25, 2025 - Associated Press

View of cars in traffic from behind with visible tailpipe emissions

USDOT Repeals Emissions Monitoring Rule

A Biden-era regulation required states to report and plan to reduce transportation-related emissions.

April 23, 2025 - Smart Cities Dive

Entrance to subterranean Hollywood/Vine Metro station in Los Angeles, California surrounded by tall apartment buildings.

Opinion: California’s SB 79 Would Improve Housing Affordability and Transit Access

A proposed bill would legalize transit-oriented development statewide.

April 21, 2025 - San Gabriel Valley Tribune

White BART public transit train at Coliseum station in Oakland, California.

NRDC Releases State Transportation Scorecard

The Getting Transportation Right report highlights which states are making the most progress on reducing transportation emissions and improving access to clean transportation options.

April 21, 2025 - Natural Resources Defense Council

Power lines and towers at dusk.

Ratepayers Could Be on the Hook for Data Centers’ Energy Use

Without regulatory changes, data centers’ high demand for energy would be subsidized by taxpayers, according to a new study.

March 10, 2025 - Governing

View of Pennsylvania state capitol building with historical plaque in foreground.

Trump Administration Unfreezes Pennsylvania Climate Funding Amidst Lawsuits

Funding for air and water quality programs still at risk.

March 3, 2025 - Inside Climate News

View of Los Angeles skyline at sunrise with yellow and green trees in foreground

LA’s Trees Absorb More Carbon Than Expected, But Can’t Do It Alone

A USC study finds that Los Angeles’ urban trees absorb more carbon than expected, but while they provide crucial environmental benefits, they cannot replace the urgent need for systemic emissions reductions.

February 28, 2025 - Phys.org

Worker in yellow safety vest and hard hat looks up at servers in data center.

California Bills Would Rein in Data Centers’ Energy Use

A series of proposed bills seeks to limit ratepayer increases and ensure data centers report their energy usage and electricity sources.

February 20, 2025 - CALmatters

Aerial view of Bayway refinery in Elizabeth City, New Jersey.

New Jersey to Consider Charging Fossil Fuel Companies for Pollution

A proposed law would make companies liable for damages caused by burning fossil fuels.

December 18, 2024 - Fast Company

Haleakala National Park entrance sign in Maui, Hawaii.

Hawai'i Researchers Tackle Climate Challenges in National Parks

University of Hawaiʻi researchers are using advanced remote sensing technologies to protect cultural resources in five Hawaiʻi national parks from climate change impacts while training students in cutting-edge environmental science techniques.

November 24, 2024 - University of Hawai'i News

View of cars in traffic from behind with visible tailpipe emissions

Report: 14 States Increased Per-Capita Carbon Emissions

Many of the states on the list are red-leaning states that fought against federal environmental reporting regulations.

November 20, 2024 - Streetsblog USA

Close-up of pipe labeled with yellow and black Natural Gas sticker.

Louisiana Planning Massive ‘Mystery’ Data Center

The center would be powered by a new, 1,500-megawatt natural gas plant, which critics say will drive up emissions and contribute negatively to the region’s air quality.

November 19, 2024 - Floodlight

Close-up of charging port on yellow electric school bus plugged in at charging station.

Opinion: Supporting Electric School Buses is the Right Thing to Do — and Fiscally Conservative

Why switching school bus fleets to electric vehicles is good for students, the environment, and school districts’ finances.

November 14, 2024 - Governing

Two-lane rural road with stoplights hanging above roadway and construction visible in distance.

Report: Some Rural States Ahead of More Urbanized Ones in Reducing Transportation Emissions

This is a largely unintended consequence of states with lower populations and resources focusing on repairing existing roads and infrastructure rather than expanding and building new roads.

November 14, 2024 - Bloomberg CityLab

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.

Senior Planner

City of Thousand Oaks

Community Development Director

City of Wisconsin Rapids

Professor of Urban Planning

Harvard University Graduate School of Design

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.