Sustainability planning involves strategies and practices that reduce carbon emissions and the reliance on fossil fuels, conserve natural resources, promote infill development and density, and support renewable energy. Sustainable urban planning ensures the long-term ecological, economic, and social health of cities through policies and regulatory mechanisms that focus on energy efficiency and smart growth.

Sustainability Courses

exterior of leed building
Greening the Neighborhood: LEED-ND Core Concepts
Eliot Allen
29 Mins
  • AICP CM
  • SACPLAN CPD
large landfill with electronics and computers
Wasted Urban Opportunities
Seema Thomas
53 Mins
  • CIP
  • AICP CM
cars in traffic
Greenhouse Gas Emissions Accounting for Cities
Michael R. Boswell, Tammy Seale
60 Mins
  • AIA CES
  • AICP CM
  • CNU-A
  • SACPLAN CPD
The Japanese Tea Garden in Golden Gate Park.
History of U.S. Landscape Architecture, Part 1
Kristin Faurest
64 Mins
  • AIA CES
  • AICP CM
graphic of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
UN Sustainable Development Goals: The Role of Cities in Implementation
Chris Holtkamp
75 Mins
  • CIP
  • AIA CES
  • AICP CM
  • SACPLAN CPD
view of downtown minneapolis from bridge
Greening the Neighborhood: LEED-ND Metrics
Eliot Allen
65 Mins
  • AICP CM
  • SACPLAN CPD
detached accessory dwelling unit ADU in backyard
Accessory Dwelling Units: Understanding America’s Newest Housing Typology
Jason Neville
57 Mins
  • CIP
  • AIA CES
  • AICP CM
  • SACPLAN CPD
beach houses on coastline
Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment for Cities
Michael R. Boswell
59 Mins
  • AIA CES
  • AICP CM
  • CNU-A
  • SACPLAN CPD
Brooklyn Bridge Park at golden hour
History of U.S. Landscape Architecture, Part 2
Kristin Faurest
61 Mins
  • AIA CES
  • AICP CM
bicyclists with city bus in background in santa monica
Incorporating the Sustainable Development Goals into the Planning Process
Chris Holtkamp
66 Mins
  • CIP
  • AIA CES
  • AICP CM
  • SACPLAN CPD
leed buildings with green space in foreground
Greening the Neighborhood: LEED-ND Globally and v.4 Update
Eliot Allen
51 Mins
  • AICP CM
  • SACPLAN CPD
parking meter on sidewalk
The Right Price for Curb Parking
Donald Shoup
51 Mins
  • CIP
  • AICP CM
  • SACPLAN CPD
group of bicyclists in bike lane
Creating a Low-Carbon, Resilient City
Michael R. Boswell, Tammy Seale
48 Mins
  • AIA CES
  • AICP CM
  • CNU-A
  • SACPLAN CPD
Findlay market on a colorful street in Ohio.
Landscape Design for Social Sustainability, Part 1
Kristin Faurest
57 Mins
  • CIP
  • AIA CES
  • AICP CM
solar panels on roof with large buildings in the background
Introduction to Corporate Sustainability
Carlos Zapata
45 Mins
  • AICP CM
smoke and air pollution from smokestack
Economic Thinking for Planners: Economics of the Environment
Peter Gordon
56 Mins
  • AICP CM
  • SACPLAN CPD
Denver union station with city skyline aerial photo
Introduction to Transit Oriented Development
John Hersey
51 Mins
  • CIP
  • AIA CES
  • AICP CM
  • SACPLAN CPD
exterior and interior of tiny home for urban planning course
Regulatory Implications of Tiny Homes
Malak Hakim
58 Mins
  • AIA CES
  • AICP CM
  • CNU-A
A busy street in Vienna, Austria.
Landscape Design for Social Sustainability, Part 2
Kristin Faurest
53 Mins
  • CIP
  • AICP CM
closeup map of texas showing weather conditions
Developing a Fact Basis for Hazard Planning
Shannon Van Zandt
62 Mins
  • SACPLAN CPD
materiality determination graphic
Principles of Materiality, Responsiveness, Inclusivity, and Impact
Carlos Zapata
61 Mins
  • CIP
  • AICP CM
child playing with bubbles in park
Introduction to Healthy Communities
Matt Raimi
72 Mins
  • AIA CES
  • AICP CM
  • CNU-A
  • SACPLAN CPD
aerial of denver with buildings and transit
Equitable Transit Oriented Development
John Hersey
57 Mins
  • CIP
  • AIA CES
  • AICP CM
  • SACPLAN CPD
3d model created in cityengine for urban planning course
CityEngine for Planners 3: Integration and GIS
Elliot Hartley
70 Mins
  • AICP CM
  • SACPLAN CPD

Top Sustainability Instructors

Eliot Allen

Eliot Allen, certified, LEED AP-ND, is an urban planner and Principal with Criterion Planners of Portland...

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Chris Holtkamp

Chris Holtkamp is a certified planner and is an Assistant Professor of Environmental Planning at the...

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Carlos Zapata

Carlos Zapata is a Sustainability and ESG professional who is a graduate of Yale's MBA in...

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Kristin Faurest

Kristin Faurest is a public garden education and outreach professional, author, and landscape architecture educator, committed...

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Seema Thomas

Seema is an urban development professional focused on developing and expanding innovative and inclusive initiatives to...

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Michael R. Boswell

Michael R. Boswell is a Professor of City & Regional Planning at California Polytechnic State University...

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Richard Willson

Richard Willson is a professor in the Department of Urban and Regional Planning at California State...

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Tammy Seale

Tammy Seale is a principal with Michael Baker International and director of the Sustainability and Climate...

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Jeff Speck

Jeff Speck is a city planner who advocates internationally for more walkable cities.

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David Rouse

David is a consultant, educator, and author with over 40 years of experience in urban and...

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David Dixon

David is well known for helping create new, mixed-use urban districts (in both cities and suburbs)...

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John Hersey

John is a planner with two decades of experience critically evaluating and advancing transit-oriented development as...

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Matt Raimi

Matt Raimi is the president and founder of Raimi + Associates, a Berkeley-based planning, design and...

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Lauren Dunning

Lauren Dunning is a lawyer and public health practitioner whose work has focused on developing strategies...

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Jonathan Ochshorn

Jonathan is a registered architect with an academic background in structural engineering and urban design as...

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Lindsay Malbon

Lindsay is an urban lighting and dark sky educator. Her lighting research has been featured in...

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Jenny Schuetz

Jenny is a Senior Fellow at Brookings Metro and an expert in housing policy.

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Jason Neville

Jason is an experienced urban planner, redevelopment professional, and affordable housing developer.

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Donald Shoup

Donald Shoup is Distinguished Research Professor in the Department of Urban Planning at UCLA. His research...

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James Brasuell

James Brasuell is the managing editor of Planetizen.

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William Fulton

William Fulton is the director of the Kinder Institute for Urban Research and the former mayor...

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Scott Frazier

Scott Frazier is one of the hosts of the L.A. Podcast. Scott is also Director of...

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Mariela Alfonzo

Mariela Alfonzo is the founder and CEO of State of Place. Mariela also has a PhD...

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Allison Arieff

Allison Arieff is the editorial director of SPUR and a columnist for The New York Times.

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All Sustainability Courses

Measuring Neighborhood Segregation and Diversity Sign Up

Measuring Neighborhood Segregation and Diversity

Instructor: Emily Talen

This course reviews the various ways to measure both segregation and diversity at the neighborhood scale.

4.17
56 Mins
AIA CES
AICP CM
CNU-A
Calculating the Benefits of Parks, Trails, and Open Space Sign Up

Calculating the Benefits of Parks, Trails, and Open Space

Instructor: Todd J. Poole

This course provides examples of how to calculate market and non-market values of parks, trails, and open space, as well as how to identify potential revenue-generating opportunities for long-term maintenance and operation.

4.11
34 Mins
AICP CM
CNU-A
SACPLAN CPD
Urban Design for Planners 8: Parking and Traffic Sign Up

Urban Design for Planners 8: Parking and Traffic

Instructor: Emily Talen

The final course in the Urban Design for Planners series addresses the automobile as part of the urban fabric. The storage of cars and high levels of congestion can be very detrimental to neighborhoods, but good design can mitigate those negative effects. 

4.20
90 Mins
AICP CM
CNU-A
LA CES

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