Webinars And Videos

Special thanks to the Urban3 team for collaborating on this project. Project Team: Ti Decker Carolyn Frykberg Brooke Robinson Henry Walker Phillip Walters Heather Worthington

Small, low-cost changes can make cyclists and pedestrians more visible and help prevent crashes before they happen.

Want to improve the accessibility of your planning documents in just a few minutes? Jonathan Katz-Oziel shares a simple tool and practical tips you can start using today to identify and fix common accessibility issues before publishing. See more hands-on guidance in Digital Accessibility for Planners – Documents Edition. #Accessibility #PlanningTools #DigitalAccessibility #UrbanPlanning #InclusivePlanning

What if one of the most important strategies for an area’s safety is to have people out and about on the sidewalk, looking out for each other…whether they realize it or not? Jane Jacobs calls this “eyes on the street.”

Many accessibility issues are surprisingly easy to avoid – once you know what to look for. In this clip, Jonathan Katz-Oziel highlights common mistakes, from poor color contrast to inaccessible formatting, and explains how planners can create content that works for everyone. Learn the full process in Digital Accessibility for Planners. #Accessibility #UrbanPlanning #InclusiveDesign #PlanningPractice #DigitalAccessibility

After 28 crashes in 5 years, residents pushed for change — and now a safer redesign is finally underway. We love to see this type of action in communities!

We’ve spent decades expanding highways, but every dollar spent on expansion is a dollar that can’t be spent elsewhere. Maybe it’s time to focus on maintaining what we’ve already built.

When Jane Jacobs walked around a neighborhood that was seen as a slum, she felt like it was actually a healthy area, and the statistics backed it up. There are places all over America where that’s true today, too; what does your common sense and personal observation tell you?

Call it a backyard cottage, a granny flat, or just extra space. It doesn’t change the character of the neighborhood- and if we want to make housing more affordable, allowing for these small homes is a great first step.

What does it actually look like to navigate a planning document using assistive technology? In this clip, accessibility expert Jonathan Katz-Oziel explains how people with disabilities experience digital documents – and why thoughtful document design is essential for equitable public engagement. Learn practical techniques to create documents everyone can use in Digital Accessibility for Planners – Documents Edition. #Accessibility #UrbanPlanning #InclusivePlanning #DigitalAccessibility #PublicEngagement

Electric vehicle (EV) adoption is accelerating globally and with it, a new wave of opportunity. EV batteries are typically replaced once they lose 20–30% of their original capacity, but at that point they still retain productive potential. Instead of becoming waste, these batteries can be repurposed for a “second life” in less demanding applications, including microgrids powering communities, charging infrastructure, electric two- and three-wheelers and grid support services. The scale of this opportunity is rapidly approaching. The volume of retired EV batteries is projected to exceed 300 GWh by 2030, with at least half originating from China alone. An estimated 40–70% of these batteries could be suitable for second-life applications, representing a vast reserve of energy storage capacity ready to be deployed. If effectively harnessed, second-life batteries could improve energy access, lower system costs, support grid resilience, and accelerate the clean energy transition.

Most neighborhood streets are designed the same way: wide, fast, and built for traffic first. But what if local streets were designed for the people who live there, vs the traffic that goes through?

Costa Rica protects 30% of its marine areas — but what can the ocean do for the rest of the world? From renewable energy and decarbonized shipping to blue food production and 51 million new jobs, a sustainable ocean economy offers powerful solutions to climate change, food security, and economic resilience. Yet less than 1% of global development funding goes to the ocean. With major global convenings in 2026 — including the Our Ocean Conference and COP31 — the time to act is now. Learn more about Sustainable Ocean Plans and the path to a healthy, productive ocean for all.

Costa Rica protects 30% of its marine areas — but what can the ocean do for the rest of the world? From renewable energy and decarbonized shipping to blue food production and 51 million new jobs, a sustainable ocean economy offers powerful solutions to climate change, food security, and economic resilience. Yet less than 1% of global development funding goes to the ocean. With major global convenings in 2026 — including the Our Ocean Conference and COP31 — the time to act is now. Learn more about Sustainable Ocean Plans and the path to a healthy, productive ocean for all: https://go.wri.org/oceandayyoutube

Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping planning—but is your agency ready? In this free webinar, Tom Sanchez introduces the Five Dimensions of AI Readiness, a practical framework for helping planning agencies evaluate where they are today and what steps they should take before adopting AI more broadly. You’ll learn: • What AI readiness means for planning organizations • The five dimensions every agency should evaluate • Common challenges preventing successful AI adoption • Practical strategies for implementing AI responsibly • How planners can prepare for the future of AI-enabled practice Whether you’re a planner, manager, department director, or agency leader, this session provides actionable guidance for building an AI strategy that goes beyond experimentation. Continue learning with the full AI for Planning course: https://www.planetizen.com/ai-class?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=description Looking to train your entire team? Explore Planetizen Courses for Organizations: https://zcal.co/katguimapang/AIClass-Demo Browse all Planetizen Courses: https://courses.planetizen.com/

The goal isn’t a prettier street, but a stronger place. And great places aren’t always created by adding more stuff, they’re created by making better use of what’s already there.

What if your street was for kids playing sometimes instead of just cars? Play Streets temporarily close roads to traffic so kids can play, neighbors can connect, and communities can experience a different use for public space.

Many accessibility issues aren’t visible on the surface of a website. In this clip from Digital Accessibility for Planners – Web Edition, accessibility expert Jonathan Katz-Ouizel demonstrates how planners can inspect website code and use browser tools to identify common accessibility barriers. You don’t need to be a web developer to spot problems. Understanding the basics of accessibility testing can help planners ask better questions, work more effectively with consultants and IT teams, and ensure public-facing websites are usable by everyone. Watch the clip to learn how accessibility goes beyond what you see on the screen. #UrbanPlanning #Accessibility #DigitalAccessibility #PlanetizenCourses #WebAccessibility

Too often, transportation funding encourages states to expand infrastructure instead of maintaining what they already have. What if we flipped that priority and focused first on taking care of the roads, bridges, and highways we’ve already built?

🔥 Record-breaking heat is striking #cities across Western Europe. In a CNN interview with Max Foster, WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities’ Eric Mackres explained that passive cooling solutions — like shade structures, cool roofs & urban trees — are 🔑 to tackling extreme urban heat. Read more: https://go.wri.org/euro-air-conditioning-yt

🔥 Record-breaking heat is striking #cities across Western Europe. As the world’s fastest-warming continent, deadly heat waves are becoming the new norm for Europe. With air conditioning in only 20% of its buildings, the continent faces a pressing dilemma: How can it keep people cool without worsening the climate crisis driving rising temperatures in the first place? This week, in a live interview with Max Foster on CNN, WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities’ Eric Mackres explained that passive cooling solutions — like shade structures, cool roofs & urban trees — are 🔑 to tackling extreme urban heat. Learn more ➡️ https://go.wri.org/euro-air-conditioning-yt #LCAW2026 #LondonClimateActionWeek

Which investments are strengthening your city over time, and which are only going to add more headaches in the future? This is something worth being curious about, and the things Jane Jacobs said in 1961 about “the sacking of cities” still applies today. #urbanism #janejacobs #cityplanning #development #robertmoses

Making a document accessible isn’t just about whether people can read it – it’s also about whether they can navigate and use it. In this clip from Digital Accessibility for Planners: Documents, accessibility expert Jonathan Katz-Ouizel explains what it means for a document to be operable and why navigation, structure, headings, links, and document organization are essential for accessibility. Whether you’re creating reports, plans, agendas, presentations, or PDFs, improving document operability helps ensure your content can be accessed and understood by a wider audience. Watch the clip to learn how small changes can make a big difference. #UrbanPlanning #Accessibility #DigitalAccessibility #InclusiveDesign #PlanetizenCourses

Accessibility overlays are often marketed as a quick fix for web accessibility – but many accessibility experts and disability advocates argue they don’t solve the underlying problems and can sometimes create new barriers. In this clip from Digital Accessibility for Planners -Web Edition, accessibility expert Jonathan Katz-Ouizel explains why overlays have become controversial and what planners should focus on instead when creating accessible websites and online engagement tools. If your agency is responsible for public-facing websites, online plans, surveys, or community engagement platforms, understanding the limits of “silver bullet” solutions is an important step toward meaningful accessibility. Watch the clip to learn why accessibility starts with better design—not just better widgets. #UrbanPlanning #Accessibility #DigitalAccessibility #PublicEngagement #PlanetizenCourses

Por toda a América Latina, países estabeleceram metas ambiciosas para restaurar terras degradadas. Muitos já estão bem avançados nesse caminho. Mas restaurar florestas em larga escala exige mais do que ambição. Exige políticas e sistemas de dados enraizados nas realidades locais. A Aceleradora de Monitoramento de Paisagens do WRI está aqui para ajudar nessa missão. O programa reúne líderes de restauração da região para trocar conhecimentos, desenvolver suas próprias ferramentas para acompanhar o progresso e transformar compromissos nacionais em ações concretas. Ao compartilhar suas experiências, os países superam desafios que, sozinhos, poderiam levariam anos para resolver. O resultado: desde 2021, o programa permitiu que 12 países da América Latina aprimorassem suas políticas públicas e sistemas de monitoramento para a restauração, gerando benefícios tangíveis para suas comunidades. Os países avançam mais rápido, aprendendo uns com os outros e construindo as bases para uma restauração duradoura. Uma comunidade de restauração pautada na colaboração. Do México ao Chile, ouça líderes de restauração compartilhando suas perspectivas. Saiba mais: https://www.wri.org/initiatives/landscape-monitoring-accelerator #floresta #restauração #paisagens #monitoramento #américalatina #geraçãorestauração — 🌍 https://www.wri.org/ 🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/world-resources-institute 📱 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/worldresources/ 🙏🏼 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/worldresources/ 🦋 Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/worldresources.bsky.social 🐦 Twitter: https://x.com/WorldResources 🌎 WRI Digest: https://go.wri.org/4hwQ0Kp

En toda América Latina, los países han trazado metas ambiciosas para restaurar tierras degradadas. Pero restaurar bosques a gran escala exige más que ambición. Exige políticas y sistemas de datos que respondan a las realidades locales. La Aceleradora de Monitoreo de Paisajes de WRI reúne a líderes de restauración en la región para intercambiar conocimientos, desarrollar sus propias herramientas de seguimiento al progreso y convertir los compromisos nacionales en acciones concretas. Al compartir sus experiencias, superan obstáculos que a cualquier país le tomarían años resolver por su cuenta. Desde 2021, el programa ha acompañado a 12 países de América Latina en el fortalecimiento de sus políticas públicas y sistemas de monitoreo para la restauración, con beneficios tangibles para sus comunidades. Los países avanzan más rápido, aprenden unos de otros y sientan las bases para una restauración duradera. Una comunidad de restauración dispuesta a colaborar. De México a Chile, los líderes de restauración comparten sus perspectivas. Para más información, visita: https://www.wri.org/initiatives/landscape-monitoring-accelerator #bosques #restauración #paisajes #monitoreo #latinoamérica #generaciónrestauración — 🌍 https://www.wri.org/ 🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/world-resources-institute 📱 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/worldresources/ 🙏🏼 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/worldresources/ 🦋 Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/worldresources.bsky.social 🐦 Twitter: https://x.com/WorldResources 🌎 WRI Digest: https://go.wri.org/4hwQ0Kp

Explore the technology, terminology, history, trends and concerns behind autonomous vehicles together with the instructor, Jun Wang. Students will learn about the past, present and possible future of AVs on the global landscape and the key challenges they present to planners. Subscribe to Planetizen Courses’ channel and enable notifications to keep up with the latest urban planning videos: https://www.youtube.com/c/PlanetizenCourses?sub_confirmation=1 This video is an excerpt from Autonomous Vehicles: Technology, Trends, and Planning Concerns. Watch the full course here: https://courses.planetizen.com/course/av-trends?utm_source=youtube.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=description&utm_content=Self+Driving+Cars+Explained%3A+Technology%2C+Trends%2C+and+Concerns Planetizen Courses offers hundreds of online urban planning video courses taught by trusted professional planners. Sign up for access to cutting edge urban planning and urban design video courses on computer, phone, or tablet: https://courses.planetizen.com/courses?utm_source=youtube.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=plnzc-cta-description&utm_content=Self+Driving+Cars+Explained%3A+Technology%2C+Trends%2C+and+Concerns Follow Planetizen Courses on X: https://x.com/plnzcourses Follow Planetizen Courses on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/planetizen-courses

When safety solutions get blocked by liability fears and tight budgets, what needs to change?

How we connect our neighborhoods and move traffic around matters.

Robert Putnam found that some of the most important relationships in our lives are our weakest ties. The problem? We’ve built places that make those casual interactions harder. Here’s how we can bring them back.