Sustainability

Suburban Neighborhood

Resilience Planning for Suburban Growth

Whether or not the suburban shift accelerated by the pandemic continues, policymakers can implement climate resilience strategies and guide sustainable growth in both cities and exurbs.

April 12, 2022 - Brookings

Hillside home construction in the Porter Ranch neighborhood of Los Angeles, California.

Study: How California Can Shift Away From Car-Oriented Development

While the state continues to rely on driving as a primary means of transportation, fighting climate change and the worsening housing crisis means implementing policies that encourage infill development, higher density, and public transit.

April 5, 2022 - OC Register

Energy Use

U.S. to Help European Union Achieve Energy Security

President Joe Biden and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced in Brussels the formation of a joint task force to help the European Union reduce dependence on Russian energy in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

April 3, 2022 - Euractiv

treepeople_la_093

Five Ways to Build a Sustainable Community through Volunteering

Practicing sustainability can improve communities and the lives of those living there. One of the best ways to encourage sustainable living is through volunteering.

March 23, 2022 - Devin Partida

Wastewater California

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.

March 16, 2022 - Diana Ionescu

Washington D.C. Protest

How Cities Can Curb Climate Change and Protect Vulnerable Residents

A new U.N. report urges cities to upgrade their infrastructure to bolster climate resilience and build more sustainable, climate-friendly places.

March 3, 2022 - Wired

Veridian @ County Farm — THRIVE Collaborative Development Visit

Mixed-Income 'Eco-Village' Planned in Michigan

A net-zero emissions development near Ann Arbor hopes to provide a model for sustainable communities.

January 6, 2022 - Grist

The top floors of a row of pre-fab apartments or condos are shown against a blue sky.

Prefab Custom Homes: Urban Multi-Family Game Changer

Steve Glenn, CEO of Plant Prefab, shares how his company is infiltrating single and multifamily housing markets with custom designed prefabricated homes to deliver healthy and sustainable buildings by design and at scale.

December 10, 2021 - The Planning Report

An electric scooter blocks the sidewalk near a street festival in Chicago's West Loop.

Lessons From Five Years of E-Scooters

As cities continue to adapt micromobility regulations to address new devices and technologies, what can we learn from Chicago's five years of e-scooter pilots?

December 9, 2021 - Streetsblog Chicago

San Diego Metropolitan Transit System

Report: San Diego Transportation Plan Won't Meet Climate Goals

A regional plan announced by the San Diego Association of Governments will fall short of the city's goals to increase alternate mode trips to 50 percent, report finds.

November 22, 2021 - KPBS

Michelle Wu campaigning for Mayor of Boston

Boston's New Bus-Riding Mayor Could Make a Real Impact on Climate Change Goals

Recently elected Boston mayor Michelle Wu, a bus rider herself, has the potential to be 'America's first actual climate mayor.'

November 9, 2021 - Curbed

Bus Stop and Bike Lane

Plan for Emissions-Free Zone Takes Shape in Seattle

The city of Seattle is working on a plan to create a zero-emissions zone to mitigate urban pollution and reduce carbon emissions in dense, congested parts of the city.

November 4, 2021 - The Urbanist

Houston Metro

Federal Dollars Could Pave the Way for Greener, More Equitable Infrastructure

Houston's director of Transportation and Drainage Operations wants to see more sustainable development in the city that has historically depended on freeways as its critical infrastructure.

October 11, 2021 - Houston Chronicle

Dokken is a western part of the Port of Bergen (Norway). At Dokken is the large, white Port Warehouse, in which a small brown/black building (in the center of this image) is the WWII German anti-aircraft artillery bunker (RK-ID 212746).

Norwegian City Plans for Zero-Emissions Neighborhood

As it winds down port operations in the area, Bergen plans to transform its Dokken district from a busy shipping hub to a car-free, 'regenerative' zone.

October 8, 2021 - Fast Company

Los Angeles Sunset

Los Angeles County Gets a C+ on Sustainability Report Card

UCLA released a report about how land use, biodiversity, and looming environmental threats affect the health and well-being of Los Angeles County residents.

July 21, 2021 - UCLA Newsroom

Venice Beach Coronavirus

APA Recognizes Los Angeles County's Sustainability Plan

The American Planning Association (APA) has honored Los Angeles County with the Award of Excellence in Sustainability for the 2019 OurCounty Sustainability Plan.

July 9, 2021 - County of Los Angeles

Open Space

Assessing Biden's '30 by 30' Conservation Plan

The president's ambitious commitment to protect 30% of U.S. land and water by 2030 might be too broad in attempting to satisfy all land users.

July 9, 2021 - High Country News

San Francisco Ferry Building

8 Cities Taking Steps Toward Waste Reduction and Sustainability

These eight cities are taking steps to reduce waste and achieve sustainability of their metropolitan areas. Keep reading to learn more.

June 22, 2021 - Devin Partida

Offshore Wind Turbine

Offshore Wind Zone Proposed for the East Coast

A "priority offshore wind zone" between Long Island and New Jersey could accelerate permits and help the industry gain a foothold in the United States.

April 1, 2021 - The New York Times

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Industry Wins a Round Over Building Efficiency Requirements

New regulations prohibit cities from enacting stricter efficiency standards in new buildings.

March 11, 2021 - Huffington Post

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.