PBS NewsHour coverage of cities and climate change was solid. Have a listen to Calpthorpe discuss how planning and design can help cities prepare for climate impacts.

This week on the NewsHour we have been looking at how the urban heat island effect and climate change turn up the thermostat on U.S. cities, and how places like Chicago are trying to cool off with greener infrastructure.

Peter Calthorpe, urban designer and author of “Urbanism in the Age of Climate Change”, has worked on some of the biggest urban design projects in the United States over the last 20 years, in places including Portland, Salt Lake City, Los Angeles and post-hurricane southern Louisiana. He said the best thing cities can do to keep cool is plant trees.

“It’s that simple.” Calthorpe said. “Yeah, you can do white roofs and green roofs … but believe me, it’s that street canopy that makes all the difference.”

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Urban Designer Peter Calthorpe on Making Greener Cities - PBS Newshour

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/2012/10/key-to-a-cool-city-its-in-the-trees.html