China

Beijing Skyline

Peak Coal: China's Carbon Emissions Drop as the Use of Coal Slows

In the long struggle to reduce the impacts of climate change, we may have finally hit a positive milestone, as China's use of coal peaked in 2014.

August 10, 2016 - The Guardian

Rail Deck Park

Planetizen Week in Review: August 8, 2016

It only takes two minutes to catch up on the biggest news stories of the week.

August 8, 2016 - Planetizen

Shanghai China

China's Urbanization Boom May Be Slowing

After a period of modernization and urban growth unrivaled in human history, several forces promise a slump, or at least a slowing. Maybe it's time to improve existing cities, not keep building new ones.

August 2, 2016 - Bloomberg

Hong Kong Taxis

Uber Suffers Setback in China

A deal between Uber and Didi Chuxing, in big news for the future of transportation network companies around the world and Uber's place in an evolving marketplace.

August 1, 2016 - Bloomberg Technology

US - Canadian Border at Chief Mountain

Borders From Above Are More Than Just Lines On A Map

International borders viewed from above show how different patterns of political, urban and agricultural development often collide.

July 18, 2016 - Medium

Coal Ash

Energy Agency Totals Annual Death Toll from Air Pollution at 6.5 Million

The study by the Paris-based International Energy Agency finds a direct connection to the energy industry. Credit goes to IEA executive director Fatih Birol for expanding the organization's mission beyond its traditional purpose, energy security.

June 29, 2016 - The New York Times - Energy & Environment

Kirkuk Infrastructure Rebuild

Report: China Outspending North America and Western Europe on Infrastructure

There might still be such a thing as too much infrastructure spending, however.

June 16, 2016 - Bloomberg

The fronts of three double-decker buses in London

What If Buses Could Pass Over Cars?

The latest from China: a concept for street-straddling buses that cars could pass underneath. The giant vehicles could improve worsening traffic and already-dire pollution levels, taking the place of many conventional buses.

May 31, 2016 - CityLab

Electronic Waste

Activists Track America's Electronic Waste

When a watchdog group partnered with MIT to install trackers on a batch of e-waste, the results were sobering. Much of the haul left the country, ending up in Asian junkyards where unknowing workers are exposed to toxic substances.

May 16, 2016 - KUOW

Nu River China

China's Last Wild River Could Remain Free of Dams

Plans to dam China's last wild river have been circulating since 2003, but now it seems that conservationists could emerge victorious

May 14, 2016 - National Geographic

The Greening of Large Trucks Begins at California's Ports

A Planetizen blog post by Casey Brazeal asks, "When will the trucking industry electrify?" Three truck manufacturers and electric truck builder BYD Motors are now in competition thanks to a $23.6 million state grant to the South Coast Air District.

May 9, 2016 - Fleet Owner

Seeing Eye People

Safety Improvements for Texters Around the World

Cities are experimenting with safety measures for pedestrians who text while they walk, but the projects could benefit everyone.

May 8, 2016 - The Guardian

Coal Industry: Down but Not Out

It's easy to focus on the shrinking market share and layoffs in the coal industry and see the demise of the industry, but construction of new coal burning power plants is still booming in countries like China and India.

April 5, 2016 - Vox

Beijing Plan Model

The 3,000-Year-Old Document That Planned Beijing

The Guardian Cities details how the Kaogong Ji brought an ancient order to the sprawling city of Beijing.

March 25, 2016 - The Guardian Cities

Urban Fringe the New Frontier in China's New Urbanism

The Chinese government wants an influx of nearly 100 million new urban residents by 2020. In order to accommodate a migration of this nature, China's urban planners are tasked with creating cities to be more livable.

February 5, 2016 - CityLab

Skyscraper Construction Continues Record Breaking Pace

The new record for skyscrapers built in a year brakes the record set by the previous year. The record is expected to be set again next year.

January 24, 2016 - Dezeen

China Announces New Planning Policies to Improve Urban Life

National leaders in China have recognized urban challenges like pollution and public safety as threats to residents of the country's cities, and have released a policy statement to begin a new era of urban policies.

December 31, 2015 - China Daily

New Delhi Restricts Diesel Cars; Beijing Issues Second Red Alert

It took an act of the Supreme Court for India to address the incredibly unhealthy levels of particulate matter in New Delhi. New rules are aimed at diesel cars, SUVs, and taxis. In Beijing, pollution triggered a red alert for only the second time.

December 21, 2015 - The New York Times - Asia Pacific

Good News on Bad Air Day in Beijing

Calling Monday's air pollution a 'bad air day' is a gross understatement. The "soupy metallic haze" was comparable to walking through a coal mine. People were told not to go outside. But the good news is how the government is addressing pollution.

December 11, 2015 - The New York Times - Asia Pacific

Historic Hong Kong

Historic Hong Kong: Visualizing a Changed City

Created with input from historian Mark Footer, this tool overlays street views of modern Hong Kong with historical photos from the colonial era through the 20th century.

December 11, 2015 - HotelClub

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

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