Air Pollution

Aerial view of dense historic urban area of Bradford, United Kingdom.

Clean Air Zone Nets Health Authority Over £30K per Month

A new study links the zone to a 25 percent drop in GP visits for lung and heart conditions in its first year alone.

February 20, 2025 - The Guardian

View of downtown Los Angeles, California through orange haze.

Lawmakers Call for Improved Air Quality Monitoring in LA Following Fires

Wildfires like those in Los Angeles that destroy urban structures release toxic chemicals, including lead, into the air.

February 5, 2025 - Los Angeles Times

Aerial view of Bayway refinery in Elizabeth City, New Jersey.

New Jersey to Consider Charging Fossil Fuel Companies for Pollution

A proposed law would make companies liable for damages caused by burning fossil fuels.

December 18, 2024 - Fast Company

View from hilltop residential neighborhood of downtown Los Angeles, California on a cloudy day.

LA Neighborhood Residents Unite to Block Warehouse Project

A group of Lincoln Heights residents expressed concerns about a proposed warehouse that would have brought increased truck traffic to an already overburdened area.

December 16, 2024 - CALmatters

Tesla factory in Fremont, California with dry hills in background.

Tesla Is California’s Second-Biggest Air Polluter

A Wall Street Journal investigation found multiple and repeated violations of California’s air quality rules.

November 28, 2024 - Jalopnik

Apartment buildings surrounded by freeways in Laguna Niguel, California.

Balancing TOD and Public Health

Building housing near transportation networks can improve density and walkability, but can also have serious health consequences for residents.

November 26, 2024 - Next City

Close-up of charging port on yellow electric school bus plugged in at charging station.

Opinion: Supporting Electric School Buses is the Right Thing to Do — and Fiscally Conservative

Why switching school bus fleets to electric vehicles is good for students, the environment, and school districts’ finances.

November 14, 2024 - Governing

Man in black and red jacket using backpack-mounted leaf blower on large pile of brown leaves.

Baltimore Bans Gas Leafblowers

The devices release as much air pollution as driving 1,100 miles and have been banned in over 100 U.S. cities.

October 17, 2024 - The Cool Down

Close-up of bright green phytoplankton underwater.

Exploring Ocean Iron Fertilization: A Potential Climate Solution

Researchers are exploring ocean iron fertilization as a potential method for removing atmospheric carbon dioxide, emphasizing the need for controlled trials to determine its effectiveness and ecological impact in combating climate change.

October 14, 2024 - University of Hawai'i News

Close-up of blue flame in gas-powered water heater.

Study: Building Pollution Contributing to Poor Air Quality in NYC

Pollutants from methane, propane, and fuel oil are on the rise, leading to a growing public health crisis.

October 1, 2024 - BK Reader

Distant view of brown oil pump jack in a flat desert with cloudy blue sky.

High Ozone Levels Threaten New Mexico Oil Town

The small community of Loving, New Mexico has higher ozone levels than dense cities like Los Angeles.

August 22, 2024 - KUNM

Close-up of row of electric car charging stations in a covered garage structure

Study: How EVs Perpetuate the Harms of Car Culture

While they emit less pollution, electric cars don’t solve many urgent issues like sprawl and fine particulate pollution.

March 12, 2024 - Bloomberg CityLab

A factory smoke stack billows out black smoke into a blue sky.

24 States Sue EPA Over New Soot Pollution Limit

The agency cites health risks of air pollution as reason for the new limit; states appear concerned it will kill their economies.

March 11, 2024 - The Hill

Hazy view of Interstate 5 freeway in Los Angeles, California.

Study: Air Pollution Disproportionately Impacts Communities of Color

The negative effects of poor air quality occur at higher rates in low-income neighborhoods and communities of color, according to new research.

March 7, 2024 - George Washington University

Two red combines harvesting corn in central California.

San Joaquin Valley Struggles to Lower Emissions

The San Joaquin Valley has some of the worst air pollution and particulate matter emissions in the nation, but agricultural sources are loosely regulated.

March 6, 2024 - Civil Eats

Elderly man and granddaughter standing on public bus.

Opinion: To Improve Health Outcomes, Invest in Public Transit

A medical student calls for improving public transit to boost the health of people and the environment.

March 3, 2024 - The Equation

Buffalo, New York

Buffalo Residents Push Back on Proposed Cap Park

State and local officials say the $1 billion project will heal neighborhoods divided by the Kensington Expressway, but community members say the proposed plan will exacerbate already poor air quality in the area.

February 23, 2024 - Bloomberg CityLab

IPhone with Redfin app open, sitting on top of tablet with Google Maps of Portland on the screen.

Redfin to Add Air Quality Data to Property Listings

As climate and wildfire risks grow, Redfin seems to think homeowners will soon be taking air quality scores into consideration when purchasing their next home.

February 19, 2024 - Fast Company

Hazy sky with Portland, Oregon skyline barely visible in background. Man walking in foreground.

Report: 25 Percent of Americans Live With Poor Air Quality

Fires and extreme heat are generating more harmful particulate matter.

February 18, 2024 - Health Day

Photovoltainc solar panels in green grass field.

The Climate Outlook for 2024

This year could mark a turning point for climate policy and energy systems.

January 18, 2024 - Yale Climate Connections

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.