Commemorate the 51st World Environment Day with this curated list of Planetizen articles highlighting research and projects that promote a healthier, more sustainable world.

It’s World Environment Day, a global celebration that has been held annually on June 5 since 1973. According to its official website, “World Environment Day is a global platform for inspiring positive change. People from more than 150 countries participate in this United Nations international day, which celebrates environmental action and the power of governments, businesses and individuals to create a more sustainable world.” This year the event is being hosted by Saudi Arabia with a focus on land restoration, desertification, and drought resilience.
In honor of this global commemorative date, Planetizen’s editors have pulled together a roundup of recent articles highlighting studies and initiatives in cities and rural communities across the United States aimed at protecting and enhancing environmental and public health.
Here’s a list of recent headlines highlighting inspiring environmental research and projects:
- Planting for the Future: The Urban Trees of Tomorrow
- WHO Resource Database Links Planning and Public Health
- Planting Trees Where They are Most Needed
- The Benefits of Trees
- Regenerating and Healing Land Through Parks
- Sibling Study Highlights Impact of Green Neighborhoods on Public Health
- The Future of Federal Funding for Green City Initiatives
- Transforming Landfills into Parks
- The Promise of Urban Food Forests
- Rewilding the Golf Course
- New Documentary Highlights Regenerative Agriculture and Climate Change
- Latest Trends in Parks and Recreation
- Rochester Updating Urban Forest Master Plan
- Planning for Trees in Los Angeles
- San Francisco's Presidio Earns Fifth 'Green Flag' Award
- Tree Folio NYC Aims to Monitor Urban Forest in Real Time

New Florida Law Curbs HOA Power
The legislation seeks to cut down on ‘absurd’ citations for low-level violations.

New Tennessee Law Allows No-Cost Incentives for Affordable Housing
Local governments in the Volunteer State can now offer developers incentives like increased density, lower parking requirements, and priority permitting for affordable housing projects.

Planners’ Complicity in Excessive Traffic Deaths
Professor Wes Marshall’s provocatively-titled new book, "Killed by a Traffic Engineer," has stimulated fierce debates. Are his criticisms justified? Let’s examine the degree that traffic engineers contribute to avoidable traffic deaths.

Study: Housing Crisis is About Affordability, not Supply
New research shows that there is no overall shortage of housing units, but all U.S. metropolitan areas face a severe lack of affordable units for low-income renters.

Are Race-Based Lawsuits Affecting Community Lenders?
Shelterforce spoke with community lending leaders and experts about the current mood across the sector. What, if anything, are organizations doing to avoid becoming the next target of conservative activists?

New Park Promotes Community and Connectivity in Lewisville, Texas
The city of Lewisville just celebrated the opening of Glory Park/Parque la Gloria, helping to improve park access and the quality of life for residents.
City of Madera
City of Santa Clarita
Borough of Carlisle
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Colorado Energy Office
Pima County Community College District
City of Piedmont, CA

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