Environment & Sustainability

I-5 through Northgate section of Seattle. Northgate Station rises on the right.(Photo by Doug Trumm)

State Commission: Replace Gas Tax with Road Usage Charge, but Keep Highways-Only Earmark

From February 2018 through January 2019, Washington state tested out a possible replacement program for the gas tax known as the "Road Usage Charge"...

Washington Developing Bike/Ped Plan, Early Analysis Shows High Stress on State Highways

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) has been working on a statewide active transportation plan this year that could reshape the state's highway...

Sunday Video: Destruction of the Amazon

https://youtu.be/SAZAKPUQMw0 Why is the Amazon rainforest seeing yet another massive deforestation wave and burning after years of significant falling deforestation rates? And what does that...

Sunday Video: Airport Expansion

https://youtu.be/QN5Rnu0-RhE Using London’s Heathrow Airport as a case study, Dave Amos explains the pitfalls and limited benefits of airport expansion.

The Real Election Loser Was the Environment

Now that the 2019 Washington State elections are mostly decided, I’ve been reflecting on who won and lost. A lot of candidates lost. Some would say...

Sunday Video: China Is Forcing The World To Rethink Recycling

https://youtu.be/8HROn34sDRk With China denying importation of recyclables, countries like America need to rethink their approach to recycling goods.

Sunday Video: How Bad Planning Makes Wildfires Worse

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJiepXtXRX8 Dave Amos explains how a lack of good planning can contribute to worse wildfires.
A vertical farm proposed in Seoul seeks to bring fresh organic food closer to consumers. (Courtesy of Zoubeir Azouz Architecture)

An Urbanist Case for Vertical Farming

Today, common agricultural practices come with significant environmental costs. The sector depletes fresh water supplies, occupies large swathes of land, and emits major greenhouse...