Sustainability
Swapping your gas car for an EV is greener than keeping it, research shows
An EV repays the 'carbon debt' caused by building it after 4,400 miles.
Climate change could double household water costs in some cities, study finds
New research suggests that climate change-related stressors are straining municipal water systems.
DC energy efficiency rule requires buildings to upgrade their infrastructure or face millions in fines
Building owners and condo co-op members say the upgrades are often prohibitively expensive.
How to get away from 'single-use buildings'
The construction industry creates 40% of global carbon emissions. Can it do better?
New York legislature passes one-year data center ban
The bill also calls for an impact report from the state's environmental agency and public hearings for large data center proposals.
Ten extraordinary women making cities work better for everyone
A new book profiles women leaders shaping the future of modern cities. These are some of their stories.
US Transit Fleets Have Bought Over 8,000 Zero-emission Buses
The number of zero-emission transit vehicles grew by 16 percent between 2024 and 2025.
DC Installing Public, Curbside EV Chargers in All Wards
DDOT hopes the pilot program will make EV charging easier and more accessible for residents in denser neighborhoods and apartment dwellers.
The United States Exits Global Climate Change Network
Mayors from across the U.S. expressed dissatisfaction with the federal government’s decision to withdraw from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
Uber Abandons Climate Commitments, Kills EV Incentive for Drivers
The company is dropping its pledge to fully electrify its fleet by 2030 and eliminating a monthly bonus for drivers who switch to EVs.
LA County Adopts Strategy for Greener, More Resilient Communities
The 2025 OurCounty Sustainability Plan charts an ambitious path toward a cleaner, more equitable, and climate-resilient future for Los Angeles County.
Seven Brilliant Projects Keeping New Orleans Safe from Stormwater
20 years post Katrina, New Orleans has shored up and reinvented itself to absorb millions upon millions of gallons of stormwater. Their success holds lessons for landscape architects all over the world.
New Florida Law Bars Communities From Planning for Climate, Disaster Resilience
A law aimed at speeding up redevelopment after hurricanes bars “burdensome” land use regulations that could help communities rebuild with more resilience.
Mayors Along the Mississippi See Climate Change Coming — and are Shoring up Together
The Mississippi River Cities and Towns Initiative is bringing together local officials to address climate resilience across the region.
Texas Rural Communities Could Lose Billions From Renewable Energy Tax Credit Cuts
Texas produces more solar and wind energy than anywhere in America — and the tax revenue from it pays for rural schools, hospitals, law enforcement and more. The One Big Beautiful Bill threatens that.
A Vision for the Future: LA County Releases Draft Sustainability Plan
Los Angeles County has released the draft 2025 OurCounty Sustainability Plan — shaped by community input — and is inviting public feedback through August 22 to help guide the County’s path toward a more sustainable, equitable, and resilient future.
How the ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ Impacts Transportation
Five ways the bill negatively impacts U.S. transportation policy.
DC to Launch E-Bike Delivery Pilot
The District will fund low-cost e-bikes and provide charging and battery swap stations for delivery workers to encourage e-bikes as an alternative to driving for food deliveries.
Trump Prompts Restructuring of Transportation Research Board in “Unprecedented Overreach”
The TRB has eliminated more than half of its committees including those focused on climate, equity, and cities.
Parks: Essential Community Infrastructure — and a Smart Investment
Even during times of budget constraint, continued investment in parks is critical, as they provide proven benefits to public health, safety, climate resilience, and community well-being — particularly for under-resourced communities.
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.
City of Thousand Oaks
City of Wisconsin Rapids
Harvard University Graduate School of Design
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
The Pocatello Development Authority
The Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Pocatello
