APA International Division

Why community benefit agreements are necessary for data centers | Brookings Nicol Turner Lee and Darrell West explain community benefit agreements and how they can support areas surrounding data centers.

As data centers expand to support the U.S. AI economy, concerns are growing around jobs, privacy, security, and community impact. Nicol Turner Lee and Darrell West outline how legally binding community benefit agreements can bring transparency to data‑center costs, risks, and local benefits.

King County Advocates Push for Transit Funding Measure in 2026 » The Urbanist # Getting King County on board with going to the voters for a supplementary funding source for Metro bus service has long been a goal of regional transit advocates. But making it happen this year will...

Getting King County on board with going to the voters for a supplementary funding source for Metro bus service has long been a goal of regional transit advocates. But making it happen this year will likely be a tall order.

Story: www.theurbanist.org/2026/02/06/k...

[Award-Winning Project Spotlight: Excellence in Public Involvement Award]
Totsuka Pre-Disaster Planning Collective | Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan
Exemplifies public involvement by embedding disaster preparedness into everyday community life and intergenerational learning.

Read more→ shorturl.at/UQ33o

[Award-Winning Project Spotlight: Excellence in Advancing Social Equity Award]
Chuong Duong Forest Park | Hanoi, Vietnam

Exemplifies how inclusive, participatory, and community-led planning can transform neglected, polluted urban land into a vibrant public space.
Read more→ shorturl.at/UQ33o

2025 Planning Excellence Awards Results are in!
international.planning.org/community/aw...

We are pleased to announce the recipients of the Planning Excellence Awards 2025. Congratulations to all!

[Registration Is Now Open!] Join Us for the 2025 World Town Planning Day Conference
Theme: With Planning We Can!
Date: Friday, November 7
Register here!: planning.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

🌍 World Cleanup Day is about rethinking waste. This year we spotlight textiles: 92M tonnes wasted yearly. From sew & swap days to drop-off points, waste picker partnerships & circular design — solutions exist. Join us 20 September to #LeaveNoWasteBehind.

[Call for Entries Now Open!] 2025 International Planning Excellence Award

📅 Deadline: October 15, 2025 (11:59 PM EDT)
📥 Apply now: international.planning.org/community/aw...
#UrbanPlanning #PlanningExcellence #APA #InternationalPlanning #CityDesign #SocialEquity

[Planning Excellence Awards 2025]
The 2025 APA International Division Planning Excellence Awards are coming up soon!
Stay tuned for updates and nomination details… in the meantime, check out past award winners for inspiration: international.planning.org/community/aw...

What if traffic deaths weren’t accidents, but design failures?

When kids step into the road too soon, we blame them. But poor crossings, missing bike paths, and ignored speed limits put them at risk.

It’s time we designed for everyone's safety.

Low-Wage Workers Rarely Get to Control Their Time. Stable and Flexible Scheduling Gives Them the Autonomy They Need to Learn, Care, and Rest. Every Labor Day, millions of workers get up and go to work to perform the essential functions of the American economy. But without stable and flexible scheduling, these workers lack options to take ca...

Research shows that stable and flexible schedules are vital for the #health, well-being, and long-term retention of essential workers.

As #LaborDay nears, explore how employers and policymakers can support flexible scheduling for low-wage #workers in a new Urban Wire post.

Image of a light rail train on elevated tracks

Federal Way Link will open on December 6, ahead of the previous plan for an early 2026 opening, Sound Transit announced today.

Story: www.theurbanist.org/2025/08/28/f...

[Planning Excellence Awards 2025]
The 2025 APA International Division Planning Excellence Awards are coming up soon!
Stay tuned for updates and nomination details… in the meantime, check out past award winners for inspiration:

international.planning.org/community/aw...

The Healthy Waters Plan: Pathways Forward for Vancouver BC’s Water Future LIVE WEBINAR | June 24, 2025 | This case study session will share technical findings and the innovative engagement processes used in this plan that other stormwater leaders and U.S. communities can co...

From Around the Industry: Our Webinar Picks: stormwateruniv.com/courses/the-...

Building resilience: How structural innovations can help communities defend against disasters On Tuesday, June 17, Brookings Metro and Economic Architecture will host a virtual event with leaders working at the intersection of housing, climate resilience, and equitable development.

Building resilience: How structural innovations can help communities defend against disasters www.brookings.edu/events/build...

Climate Change in the American Mind: Public Perceptions of the Health Harms of Global Warming, Fall 2024 - Yale Program on Climate Change Communication This report is based on findings from a nationally representative survey – Climate Change in the American Mind – conducted jointly by the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication and the George Ma...

Great work by @yaleclimatecomm.bsky.social. Full report here: climatecommunication.yale.edu/publications...

Map 1. Proportion of businesses that experienced monetary loss because of extreme weather, by metro area

Roughly 9.8% of employer businesses were financially impacted by extreme weather in 2022. In some cities like New Orleans, close to 50% were impacted. Why aren't more business leaders calling for stronger adaptation policy???
@andreperryedu.bsky.social

www.brookings.edu/interactive/...

St. Louis shows how cities can break the "urban doom loop" In this episode, experts take a deep dive into how St. Louis is using office-to-residential conversions to build affordable housing and a vibrant downtown. Tracy Hadden Loh, a fellow at Brookings, and...

1/2 Check out the new episode of Metro Blueprint, a podcast from @brookings.edu Metro. In this episode, @lohplaces.bsky.social speaks with Kurt Weigle (Greater St. Louis Inc) about how cities can break the “urban doom loop” and convert offices to residential housing www.brookings.edu/articles/st-...

Will New York's congestion pricing program pave the way for broader adoption? Experts explore how New York City created a successful congestion pricing plan that has so far reduced traffic and increased transit ridership while retaining a bustling downtown. Adie Tomer, senior f...

🚦NYC’s congestion pricing is cutting traffic & cleaning the air. Could it be a model for other cities?

🎙️ New @brookings.edu Metro Blueprint episode w/ Adie Tomer & Polly Trottenberg dives into the early wins, challenges & what’s next.

🎧 Listen: www.brookings.edu/articles/wil...

#CongestionPricing

mailchi.mp/880cities.or...

Hello! We’re the APA International Division — a space for planners working abroad and anyone interested in global planning issues and developments beyond the U.S.

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