World
Global issues, U.N., etc.
Bikes in the World Today
This three-part series from the BBC looks at bicycles in the modern world -- from Paris to Uganda to India.
Google Earth First!
Environmental activists and other organizations are using Google Earth to document environmental damage and to promote their various causes.
Abandoned Farmland Becoming Rainforest
As rural villagers abandon farms for the city, tropical lands are reverting to rainforests.
Futuristic, Carbon-Neutral Plan for Azerbaijan
A futuristic-looking, carbon-neutral development is rising on the shores of the Caspian Sea in Azerbaijan, featuring residential buidlings designed to mimic the country's famous Seven Peaks.
White Light, White Streets
Fighting global warming could be as simple as a paint job -- a global, sun-reflecting, white-wash paint job, according to scientist Hashem Akbari.
Starchitecture is Dead
Columnist Blair Kamin says that the Obama presidency puts a nail in the coffin of starchitecture, and introduces an age of sustainable buildings and an emphasis on infrastructure.
A Better World Through Architecture
Architect Wes Jones argues that architecture is "an argument for a better world". But the general public doesn't understand how. Neither do most architects, writes Christopher Hume.
15 Bold and Bizarre Parking Solutions
WebUrbanist brings together fifteen innovative, creative, and absurd experiments in parking, from VW's robot stacker to eco parking to parking meters on gravestones.
The Sprawl of Unsold Cars
The downturn in the economy has hurt the auto industry, leaving many cars unsold. Storage of these cars is becoming a problem for many automakers.
Urban Light Affecting Animal Behavior
Light reflecting from streets and glass buildings in cities have been found in a recent study to disrupt animal behavior.
Cities Gone Wild!
Architects form the University of British Columbia are calling on cities to "go wild" -- mainly by integrating ecological features into the cityscape to make it more self-contained. The result would be both sustainable and exciting, they say.
Friday Funny: Sustainability Buzzword Generator
Need a sustainable slogan to show your green cred? Look no further than Building Magazine's Sustainability Buzzword Generator.
Climate Change, Rapid Urbanization Contribute to Disaster Toll
2008 saw one of the greatest number of deaths worldwide from natural disasters. Factors contributing to the high number of deaths include extreme weather brought about by climate change, as well as rapid urbanization in vulnerable areas.
NYT Pushes Hybrid Credits and Auto Scrapping
This editorial suggests three strategies to make the American auto fleet more efficient: renewing the hybrid tax credit program (many credits have been exhausted), pursuing a "cash for clunkers program", and increasing the gas tax to supplement CAFE.
Cars Are Here To Stay, Transit Is Not The Answer
UC Davis Professor Daniel Sperling, a transportation expert and member of CA's ARB has co-written "Two Billion Cars: Driving Toward Sustainability". In this radio interview, Sperling describes cleaner auto technologies but dismisses transit's role.
Recycling Becomes an Economic Liability
Due to consumers cutting back, the global market for recyclables has collapsed and even begun to cost some cities' recycling programs.
Getting Kids Off the Street- And Up In The Air
Want to get kids off the street? Build playgrounds on top of skyscrapers, like in this retro-future design from 1957's Mechanix Illustrated.
Electric Car Race Heats Up
It's clear that both domestic and international auto companies are gearing up to manufacture all-electric (battery-powered) vehicles, though whether the market goes for them is another story with gas prices at historic lows.
Global Warming May Trigger a 'Perpetual Food Crisis'
A new study predicts that by the mid- to late- 21st century, scorching summer temperatures may result in massive failures of heat-sensitive crops such as wheat.
Cities See The Light
Through festivals, lighting master plans, and creative integrations of artistic interpretations, cities across the world are harnessing the power of light to reinvigorate neglected areas and renew public interest.
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.
Borough of Carlisle
Caltrans
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service
City of Cambridge, Maryland
