Tag Archive for environment and sustainability

Nov. 5: Green Infrastructure and Coastal Resilience

The next presentation of the Consortium for Climate Risk in the Urban Northeast (CCRUN) Green Infrastructure, Climate, and Cities Seminar Series will be held on Wednesday, November 5th at 4pm at Drexel University.  A webinar option will also be provided.

Space is limited, so please RSVP for both in-person and webinar attendance at http://www.ccrun.org/seminars

Green Infrastructure and Coastal Resilience

Adrian Benepe and Philip Orton

The topic for this session is green infrastructure and the urban coast, discussing the current state of natural hazard resilience and climate change adaptation.  Hurricane Sandy caused coastal flooding in Northern New Jersey and New York City that exceeded any levels reached in over three hundred years of the region’s history.  Philip Orton will place Sandy’s flood heights in the context of historically increasing storm tides and sea levels and will demonstrate how he is using hydrodynamic modeling to examine the efficacy of nature-based and vertical barrier based approaches. In response to resilience and adaptation, Adrian Benepe will discuss the benefits of storm water capture provided by natural green infrastructure and on wetland preservation. Adrian will focus on parks as green infrastructure, concentrating on The Trust for Public Land’s work around the country.

Read more

Oct. 30-Nov. 2: Big Ideas, Global Impacts

2014 ACSP 54th Annual Conference
BIG IDEAS, GLOBAL IMPACTS

The Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning is holding its annual conference in Philadelphia October 30 – November 2 at the Loews Philadelphia Hotel.  Today’s planning researchers and practitioners grapple with “big ideas”. From big data to fundamental restructuring of the world’s economy to climate change, the challenges of planning have changed dramatically. These challenges are daunting but they provide unprecedented opportunities for planning to have global impacts like never before. With these big challenges in mind, the Philadelphia ACSP conference aims to provide opportunities to address the big issues of today and tomorrow. Many of the sessions are approved for CM credits.

One day registration as a local practitioner is available.  Please visit http://www.acsp.org/conferences/annual_conference for more details and use the attachment to register as a local practitioner: Local Practitioner Form

Join Us This World Habitat Day!

UNAGPCH3 Logo

The United Nations designates the first Monday of October of every year as World Habitat Day.

For 70 years, the United Nations has been the one global organization with the vision and reach to address the world’s most pressing challenges.

World Habitat Day provides an excellent opportunity to highlight human settlement challenges from around the globe.

The purpose of World Habitat Day is to reflect on the state of our towns and cities, and on the basic right of all to adequate shelter. It is also intended to remind the world that we all have the power and the responsibility to shape the future of our cities and towns.

The United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development will be the first UN global summit after the adoption of the Post-2015 Sustainable Development Agenda.

RSVP here: info@una-gp.org

Info here on Facebook.

Read more

Oct. 6: Annual World Habitat Day

Film showing of Urbanized and a report on the first preparatory committee meeting of the UN Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development.

Click here for more info!

Oct. 30-Nov. 2: ACSP Conference

Thursday, October 30-Sunday, November 2
2014 ACSP Conference: Big Ideas, Global Impacts
Co-hosted by the University of Pennsylvania, Temple University, and the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
Today’s planning researchers and practitioners grapple with “big ideas”. From big data to fundamental restructuring of the world’s economy to climate change, the challenges of planning have changed dramatically. These challenges are daunting but they provide unprecedented opportunities for planning to have global impacts like never before. With these big challenges in mind, the Philadelphia conference aims to provide opportunities to address the big issues of today and tomorrow. Indeed, as the birthplace of one of history’s biggest ideas, that of the constitutional democracy, Philadelphia is an apt location to think big. Registration
Loews Philadelphia Hotel, Pennsylvania

Oct. 1: Green Infrastructure and Environmental Health and Safety

The next presentation of the Consortium for Climate Risk in the Urban Northeast (CCRUN) Green Infrastructure, Climate and Cities Seminar Series will be held on Wednesday, October 1st at 4pm EST at Drexel University. Come join the discussion about the risks and opportunities presented to our urban communities by climatic extremes, and what decision makers, researchers, and practitioners are learning about how to address these issues.

Space is limited, so please RSVP for both in-person and webinar attendance at http://ccrun.org/seminars

Green Infrastructure and Environmental Health and Safety
Dr. Michelle Kondo and Dr. Austin Troy
Read more

Sept. 24: Post-Disaster Recovery in a Changing Climate

Post-Disaster Recovery in a Changing Climate (1.5 CM credits)

Wednesday, September 24, 2014

3:45 – 5:30 PM

Chester County Planning Commission

601 Westtown Road, Suite 270, West Chester, PA 19380

This event is free, but registration is required: http://www.dvrpc.org/municipaloutreach/events.htm

Demographic shifts and climate change are making disasters bigger and costlier. Gradually, the nation is moving toward more effective long-term recovery, while communities are working to become more resilient. But greater resilience calls for more sophisticated planning. Do you have the tools for a safer, stronger community? Learn about the next generation of post-disaster recovery planning from the people who wrote the book — and the new edition. This program is also suitable for planning commissioners. Cosponsored by FEMA.

Read more

Sept. 3: Environmental Governance as a System

Environmental Governance as a System: Individuals, Organizations, and Stewardship Networks

Erika S. Svendsen and Lindsay K. Campbell

The next presentation of the Consortium for Climate Risk in the Urban Northeast (CCRUN) Green Infrastructure, Climate and Cities Seminar Series will be held on Wednesday, September 3rd at 4pm at Drexel University.  Come join the discussion about the risks and opportunities presented to our urban communities by climatic extremes, and what decision makers, researchers, and practitioners are learning about how to address these issues.

Space is limited, so please RSVP for both in-person and webinar attendance at http://www.ccrun.org/seminars

Read more

April 25: Volunteer at Temple EarthFest

Every year, Temple holds an Earth Day celebration called Earthfest.  Over 10,000 students and adults attend.  The Southeast Section staffs a booth on planning and the chapter.  We typically use historic aerials to discuss land use changes over time and how to plan for them.  The students (not all of them of course) typically react well to the aerials, trying to identify uses and answering questions on what they would do to plan.  (We usually are involved with a treasure hunt stamp and usually have candy, both of which add to the demand at our booth.)

The event will be held Friday April 25 at the Temple Ambler campus from 9:30 AM to 2 PM, although we need to get there earlier, probably around 8:30.  The event is lots of fun.  We need volunteers, preferably two people at a time for two hour shifts.  If you’re interested, please contact John Federico at jefederico@urbanengineers.com.

March 27-28: Stormwater Training in Philadelphia

The National Stormwater Center is offering Certified Stormwater Inspector (municipal) training in  Pennsylvania.  Designed specifically for municipal personnel the course offers training and certification to demonstrate, for the record, that inspectors are qualified.  The locations and dates for Pennsylvania are:

  • Pittsburgh, PA:  March 24-25, 2014
  • Philadelphia, PA:  March 27-28, 2014

Inspectors who take the course learn:

– how to inspect construction, commercial, industrial  & municipal activities
– what to inspect
– the limits of their authority
– appropriate demeanor
– appropriate discretion

Read more