Sustainability

Conceptual rendering of Rikers Island redevelopment as renewable energy facility

Can New York City Go Green Without Renewable Rikers?

New York City’s bold proposal to close the jail on Rikers Island and replace it with green infrastructure is in jeopardy. Will this compromise the city’s ambitious climate goals?

August 24, 2023 - Mark McNulty

Installation of external wall thermal insulation with rock wool on Passive House residential building.

‘Passive House’ Standard Gaining Ground in Multifamily Housing

Developers in Chicago and around the country are taking notice of a design standard that encourages energy efficiency and sustainable materials.

August 9, 2023 - Chicago Tribune

An image of Downtown Nashville with the Cumberland River at dusk.

Nashville Adopts New Mass Timber Building Standards

Mass timber buildings up to 18 stories high will now be allowed in the Music City.

August 9, 2023 - Nashville

Pedewstrianized street paved with red bricks flanked by historic four-story buildings in Dublin, Ireland

How Walkable ‘Activity Centers’ Can Reduce Driving

Encouraging mixed-use neighborhoods that help reduce vehicle miles driven and put urban amenities within easy walking distance is possible with surprisingly modest policy tweaks.

July 12, 2023 - Streetsblog USA

View of docks on lake surrounded by green trees and lawns with one white house at right

A Primer on Suburban Urbanism

How one master-planned development used lower-density urbanism principles to build a community focused on affordability, sustainability, and conservation.

July 6, 2023 - Common Edge

San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency

NRDC: Saving Transit is ‘Essential Climate Strategy’

Supporting California’s public transit systems is key to fighting climate change and boosting the state’s economy.

June 20, 2023 - Natural Resources Defense Council

Pastoral landscape painting by Thomas Cole depicting pre-colonized idyllic scene

Planning for a Post-Climate World

A series of 19th century paintings that illustrates the rise and fall of empire highlights the limits of growth.

May 17, 2023 - Gabriel A. Ramos AICP

Seattle skyline panorama seen from Kerry Park at sunset in golden evening light with Mount Rainier in the background, Washington State, United States of America

Washington Cities Balance Housing Development and Tree Canopy

Cities like Seattle and Bellingham are working to increase housing density while also preserving urban trees and green spaces.

May 3, 2023 - The Urbanist

Old wood demolition waste, from destruction or renovation of buildings in a container on a work site in a street with a house. Wooden beams to be recycled into new building materials

The Link Between Circular Building, Affordability, and Sustainability

A growing movement seeks to reduce waste in the construction industry and focus on the long-term impact of building materials.

May 1, 2023 - Wired

View of Los Angeles skyline against a bright orange sky with a palm tree at left

Los Angeles County Releases Updated Climate Action Plan

The revised plan reflects the county's commitment to fighting climate change and identifies strategies, measures, and actions to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions from community activities and some municipal operations.

April 27, 2023 - Los Angeles County Department of Regional Planning

People riding electric bike share bikes in downtown Madison, Wisconsin

Madison Adopts ‘Complete Green Streets’ Plan

The new document consolidates the city’s Complete Streets projects with its sustainability plan, providing a flexible framework for comprehensive actions that focus on safety, sustainability, and equity.

January 10, 2023 - Smart Cities Dive

Street in Paris Latin Quarter with row of bicycles, cobblestone street, and pedestrians

What Is a 15-Minute City?

The buzzword recently popularized by urbanists describes an urban form that dominated cities prior to the rise of autocentric planning.

December 28, 2022 - Diana Ionescu

Chicago, Illinois

Chicago To Issue Climate Resilience Grants

Small businesses and nonprofits are eligible for a $5 million fund designed to help the city reach its emissions reduction goals.

December 26, 2022 - Smart Cities Dive

Bus stop with passengers and bus in downtown Seattle

Puget Sound Transportation Plan Fails to Meet Climate Targets

Agency staff says the Puget Sound regional long-range plan won’t achieve 2030 sustainability goals set by the state.

December 6, 2022 - The Urbanist

Walkable Street

Report: Sustainability Goals Go Unmet in Many Global Cities

Cities around the world are failing to achieve progress toward their sustainability and public health goals, new research finds.

November 17, 2022 - Brookings

View of Austin, Texas skyline at dusk with Colorado River and bridge in foreground

New Green Development Rules Take Effect in Austin

The city updated its development code to include more robust protection for local wetlands and stricter sustainable stormwater infrastructure requirements.

November 10, 2022 - Urbanize Austin

Two-way bike lane in downtown Seattle, Washington protected wtih concrete curbs

Seattle Planning Commission Urges Reimagining of the City’s Streets

In a set of recommendations submitted to the city, the commission calls for revised land use and transportation policies that reclaim public space from cars and shift focus away from vehicle throughput to more pedestrian-oriented uses.

November 7, 2022 - The Urbanist

Aerial photo of the US 131/M-6/68th St. interchange in Wyoming, MIchigan

Op-Ed: Michigan Needs a New Transportation Strategy

One writer calls on the state to stop expanding roads and channel funding to projects that support Michigan’s sustainability goals.

October 17, 2022 - Bridge Michigan

Urban Living

D.C. Regional Framework Emphasizes Equity, Connectivity

The Region United Framework for 2030 outlines a plan for sustainable, equitable development, calling for a 'holistic' approach to regional planning.

October 7, 2022 - Greater Greater Washington

Man dropping cardboard box in blue curbside recycling bin

Why Urban Areas Need Increased Access to Recycling

In most residential areas across the United States, recycling is encouraged and offered as a way for residents to sustainably dispose of certain materials. But how many residents actually participate in their local recycling efforts?

August 11, 2022 - Devin Partida

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

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The best of the Internet—since 2002.

Top Apps

Planning apps for a brave new world.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

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.