Natural Resources
Misuse of Environmental Laws Betrays Their Intent
How laws written to protect natural resources and biodiversity are being reinterpreted by NIMBY groups to block development.
What Is CEQA?
Designed to assess the environmental impacts of new projects and provide mitigation measures, the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) has a controversial history, sometimes serving as a convenient tool for groups intent on stopping or slowing development.
Electric Car Production Could Slow Amidst Supply Chain Issues
With the pandemic and Russia's invasion of Ukraine upending supply chains, the cost of raw materials needed to produce electric car batteries is soaring.
American Jobs to Build Electric Vehicles Excludes Miners
Mining jobs needed to produce the metals for processing into battery parts used to build electric vehicles in America will not be developed in the U.S. but in Australia, Brazil and Canada, mainly to avoid battles with environmentalists.
Researchers Propose the Concept of 'Anthropogenic Drought'
As climate change heightens the risk of intense drought periods, a new framework can help scientists better understand the interconnected causes and effects of drought.
Indigenous Peoples Lead Fight Against Climate Change
Tribal communities are preparing for climate impacts by drawing on their deep understanding of the relationship between humans and the natural environment.
Winners and Losers of the California Primary
With national media focused on individual candidates, propositions that dealt with park and water bonds, transportation spending, cap-and-trade, and rainwater may have been overlooked. Plus, a measure to increase bridge tolls in the Bay Area.
How Best to Pay for Park, Wildlife, and Water Improvements
Only one of the five propositions on California's June primary ballot is a general obligation bond measure. Prop. 68 authorizes $4 billion for projects benefiting parks and water quality. Opponents prefer a pay-as-you-go approach using general funds.
Making California Climate-Resilient
California is working on a plan to adapt infrastructure statewide to the future impacts of climate change.
The 11 Most Endangered Places in the U.S.
These historic sites—be they buildings, districts, or natural landscapes—are closer to destruction than any others in the United States.
Los Angeles Reaps the Benefits of Restoring the Santa Monica Bay
Los Angeles has made major progress in restoring the Santa Monica Bay. Now, The Bay Foundation's Tom Ford sees opportunities for L.A. to capitalize on its natural resources.
How Oil Turned Every Norwegian Into a Theoretical Millionaire
The publicly held and managed wealth generated by Norway’s taxation of oil and gas extraction now equates to one million Crowns (about $162,000 USD) per capita. Norwegian law only allows the government to draw minimally from this fund every year.
Welcome to the Era of Peak Everything
You may have heard of 'peak oil,' but what about 'peak water' or 'peak wood'? Terry Tamminen looks at the range of natural resources we're using up "far too quickly."
New Study Reveals Importance of Conserving Unbuilt Land
A new study mandated by the federal Resources Planning Act predicts that developed land in the U.S. will increase by 41 percent in the next five decades. Such development could have dramatic impacts on our natural resources and ecosystems.
Unsettling Infographic Details the Impending Disappearance of World's Natural Resources
The BBC has provided an infographic timeline indicating when scientists and researchers predict valuable resources and ecosystems will disappear, urging planners and officials to address the dangers of current population and consumption levels.
All That We Share: An Interview with Jay Walljasper
What, as a society, do we share? Natural resources? Internet access? Public space? Jay Walljasper and the nonprofit On the Commons cross political boundaries to advocate for the common good and all that we share.
Economic Powerhouse to Emerge in the Arctic
As result of climate change, dwindling resources and shifting demographics, a new economic powerhouse is likely to emerge in the arctic by mid-century, according to the new book "The World in 2050".
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.
City of Brookings
City of White Salmon
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
M-NCPPC Prince George's County Planning Department
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service
