Issue Areas

Environmental Issues: Sustainable Communities

Picturing Smart Growth Visions for Sustainable Communities Across America Guide: Cities and towns across the country are embracing smart growth as a better solution to meet the needs of their growing populations. Smart growth principles accommodate growth and development while saving open space, revitalizing neighborhoods and helping cool the planet. See visions created through photo-editing software for how 70 communities across the country could apply smart growth principles to improve their streets and neighborhoods.

Whale Songs in the City Whales have been recorded singing near New York harbor, but noise pollution and shipping traffic put them at risk News: Whales have been recorded singing near New York harbor, but noise pollution puts them at risk.
Restoring the San Joaquin River Following an 18-year legal battle, a great California river once given up for dead is on the verge of a comeback. News: In the 1940s, a giant dam nearly killed California's San Joaquin River and its legendary salmon run. A court ruling could bring the river back to life, restoring the salmon fishery, providing clean irrigation water for farms and improving drinking water quality for millions of Californians.
New Orleans Environmental Quality Test Results
Analysis: Results of NRDC's monitoring for mold, contaminated soil, particulates and other substances of health concern in the New Orleans area following Hurricane Katrina.
Rebuilding New Orleans
Overview: In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, a team of health and environmental specialists from NRDC has been working with the people of New Orleans to ensure their safe recovery from the disaster.

For additional policy documents, see the NRDC Document Bank.

Kaid Benfield writes about development, community and the environment on Switchboard.

The proof is in: smart growth reduces risk of mortgage default: posted by Kaid Benfield, 6/27/13
Urbanism without effort: sometimes the best places are created instinctively: posted by Kaid Benfield, 6/25/13
Two very different views of the condition of American cities: posted by Kaid Benfield, 6/24/13

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