Environment
![Black pumpjack oil derrick with houses in background](/files/styles/small_400/public/images/shutterstock_1799763634.jpg.webp?itok=gcNufA9U)
Advancing Equity Through Conservation and Restoration
Los Angeles County's Parks Needs Assessment Plus (PNA+) makes the case that to be equitable, 30x30 efforts must include both conservation of additional natural lands and restoration of degraded lands.
![UN and New York City, Climate Week NYC 2020 is kicked off with a "March For Climate Justice NYC" on September 20, 2020 in New York City.](/files/styles/small_400/public/images/shutterstock_1818541670.jpg.webp?itok=cHhb89FW)
Environmental Justice Advocates Criticize Federal Assessment Tool
A tool designed to guide federal grant distribution may not prioritize the highest-need communities, while conflicting grant guidelines create challenges for local agencies.
![View down a Los Angeles street with cars and tall palm trees on both sides](/files/styles/small_400/public/images/shutterstock_712395238.jpg.webp?itok=c0krl9KF)
Study: L.A.’s Wealthier Residents ‘Export’ Air Pollution to Poorer Neighborhoods
Residents of Los Angeles who drive less are exposed to higher rates of air pollution due to policies that have encouraged commuting through low-income neighborhoods.
![Cadillac Escalade SUV driving toward camera on black asphalt road surrounded by forest](/files/styles/small_400/public/images/shutterstock_2158166937.jpg.webp?itok=NTtROrIz)
SUVs Are Taking a Toll on the Environment
Even with the growth of electric vehicles, experts say the trend toward larger, heavier vehicles is inherently incompatible with environmental goals.
![North Carolina](/files/styles/small_400/public/images/shutterstock_1081214168.jpg.webp?itok=WwNU9Krk)
North Carolina Drafts Clean Transportation Plan
Similar to other plans focused on reducing emissions from the transportation plan, North Carolina’s draft Clean Transportation Plan will rely on electric vehicles to reduce emissions from the state’s transportation sector.
![Rendering of underground stormwater capture system in Adventure Park in Whittier, California](/files/styles/small_400/public/images/Adventurepark_filtration.png.webp?itok=gQAhq4wS)
The Importance of Multi-Benefit Projects for Stormwater Capture and Recreation
Los Angeles County just broke ground on a $41 million stormwater capture project at Adventure Park in Whittier.
![Echo Park Lake with tall artesian fountain, palm trees and apartment buildings in background.](/files/styles/small_400/public/images/shutterstock_267825830.jpg.webp?itok=a78aOHVP)
Reimagining Conservation to Prioritize Vulnerable Communities
Learn more about Los Angeles County's Parks Needs Assessment Plus (PNA+) which focuses on environmental conservation and restoration, regional recreation, and rural recreation.
![Town of St. George, Utah with small white church and red rock cliffs in background](/files/styles/small_400/public/images/shutterstock_1580222851.jpg.webp?itok=Z2ifFvdo)
Can Southwest Utah’s Water Supply Handle its Explosive Growth?
A remote corner of the state is the nation’s fastest-growing metro area, but concerns about water supplies across the Southwest signal an uncertain future.
![Sandbags in a flood with flooded buildings in background](/files/styles/small_400/public/images/shutterstock_704598073.jpg.webp?itok=liEa-8d6)
U.S. Houses Facing Increased Flood Risk Overvalued by as Much as $237 Billion, Study Says
Housing markets are failing to price in climate risks in their assessment of housing values, according to a recent study published by Nature.
![Bus stop in downtown Los Angeles with billboard and no bench or shelter](/files/styles/small_400/public/images/shutterstock_1191235372.jpg.webp?itok=gzKE3JJK)
Study: One-Quarter of L.A. County Bus Stops Equipped With Shelters
Bus riders in Los Angeles frequently lack protection from sun and extreme heat, with bus stops in some of the county’s hottest areas having the worst amenities.
Resilience Matters: Collective Action For Healthier Communities
The Island Press Urban Resilience Project (URP) has published a new, free "Resilience Matters" e-book that contains fascinating articles, op-eds, and interviews that provide practical guidance for collective action to build a fairer, greener future.
![An image of Washington D.C. with highways and the streaks from car head and tail lights in the foreground, and the Washington Monument in the background.](/files/styles/small_400/public/images/Washington-DC.jpg.webp?itok=5Xw_aGb2)
Federal Union: Remote Work Is Climate-Friendly
Federal workers are pushing back on a return to the office, citing the environmental benefits of eliminating daily commuting.
![View of empty beach with wooden fishing pier going out into Atlantic Ocean at sunset in New Jersey](/files/styles/small_400/public/images/shutterstock_540510733.jpg.webp?itok=JAN1BBph)
New Jersey Offshore Wind Projects Face Opposition
Local critics of Gov. Phil Murphy’s plan to install hundreds of wind turbines off the New Jersey coast plan to sue the state to stop or delay the projects, citing aesthetic, environmental, and economic concerns.
![Unhoused tents under shade canopies in downtown Los Angeles, California](/files/styles/small_400/public/images/shutterstock_2129948015.jpg.webp?itok=z-oRqqkJ)
Extreme Heat Responsible for Growing Death Rates Among Unhoused People
Extreme heat events like the ‘heat dome’ that baked Southern California last summer kill a disproportionate number of people experiencing homelessness, who have fewer resources to protect themselves from the scorching sun.
![A button to start a car reads “2023 Start”](/files/styles/small_400/public/images/2023-Year.jpg.webp?itok=bG9_vKJu)
Planning Trends to Watch in 2023
The days and weeks since the arrival of Covid-19 have been filled with so much noise about the future, it’s been difficult to distinguish between big stories and frivolous distractions. Planetizen is here to help.
![A view of the Pacific Ocean and California coastline from high in the Santa Monica Mountains.](/files/styles/small_400/public/images/Santa-Monica-Mountains.jpg.webp?itok=Nece-arx)
California's Wildlife Conservation Board Funds Projects to Restore and Protect Habitats
The Wildlife Conservation Board (WCB) just approved approximately $51.83 million in grants to help restore and protect fish and wildlife habitat throughout California.
![Trees](/files/styles/small_400/public/images/shutterstock_213973930.jpg.webp?itok=I2A7edDJ)
Planting More Trees to Protect and Save Lives
A new study estimates that more than a third of premature deaths from excessive heat can be prevented by planting more trees in cities.
![Gray chemical cloud seen from a distance from train derailment in Palestine, Ohio](/files/styles/small_400/public/images/shutterstock_2262382411.jpg.webp?itok=pkl7Fkna)
Friday Funny: ‘Deregulation Works’
A tongue-in-cheek piece from The Onion calls the disastrous train derailment in Ohio a “deregulation success story.”
![Close-up of wood-frame houses under construction with mountains in the background against sunset sky](/files/styles/small_400/public/images/shutterstock_1273764610.jpg.webp?itok=i1amkVQ5)
Utah Governor: Californians, Stay Home
Gov. Spencer Cox urged Californians considering the move to Utah to stay put, highlighting the state’s rapid growth and the strain on resources like water and housing.
![Central Park](/files/styles/small_400/public/images/shutterstock_192113948.jpg.webp?itok=IfuQ2Es7)
Economic Benefits of New York City Parks
A new study by the Trust for Public Land identifies the benefits and fiscal impacts of public parks and open spaces in New York City.
Pagination
Placer County
City of Morganton
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Dongguan Binhaiwan Bay Area Management Committee
City of Waukesha, WI
Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority
Indiana Borough
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.