Planner Perspectives on Climate Survey

This survey is a product of a Divisions Council Initiative and is backed by demonstrated division performance serving planners’ needs in the realm of climate response to date.  Each of the divisions below has demonstrated in one way or another a tangible contribution or commitment to climate action on behalf of their members. 

The American Planning Association has itself led several efforts to promote the integration of climate action into the everyday work of planning professionals. For example, climate change is identified as a major issue for the planning profession in the 2023 Trend Report for Planners.  Further, all AICP accredited members are required to satisfy a new mandatory Sustainability & Resilience AICP credit as part of their credit maintenance. APA has also supported experts to prepare publications and reference materials for planners on the topic of climate change, such as the Climate Change Policy Guide, PAS Report 601: Planning for Climate Mitigation and Adaptation, and this year’s A Practical Guide to Updating Local Regulations for Climate Resilience. Other APA-endorsed materials on climate change are centralized in the Climate Change KnowledgeBase Collection on the APA website.

These divisions – as well as other divisions, chapters and APA components - have the commitment and capability to advance climate issues on behalf of APA and all planners:

• Sustainable Communities Division (SCD), Divisions Council Initiative Lead. SCD has completed a variety of climate leadership activities over the last seven or eight years, including major contributions to the development of the 2019 APA Climate Change Policy Guide, the development of the AICP Mandatory Rotating CM Credit in Sustainability & Resilience, the APA Sustainability & Resilience Series, the Climate Champions program, the recent PAS Report 601 “Planning for Climate Mitigation and Adaptation”, and leadership of the Smart Cities Initiative, among others.

• Environment, Natural Resources, and Energy Division (ENRE). Given ENRE’s eponymous focus on environment, natural resources, and energy, climate-related issues are a central issue for the ENRE Division. Most of our work on climate change has been cross-divisional, especially with SCD. We participate in climate-action trainings, webinars, APA policy initiatives as well as regional and national conference sessions. ENRE led development of a webinar “What’s all this I Hear about Sustainability, Resilience, and Climate Change…” ENRE is a leader and participant in the Climate Champions and was a lead participant in the AICP Sustainability and Resilience Targeted Credit.

• Federal Planning Division (FPD). The FPD has a long-standing focus on offering annual training workshops covering a variety of topics. This year’s (2023) workshop focused on training planners on innovative best practices including climate action planning, emergency disaster preparedness, energy and water resiliency, among other climate-contributing priorities.

• Food Systems Division (FSD). The Food Systems Division has contributed to the development of climate-related resources including publishing articles, like the “Why Food Deserves More Attention in Reversing Climate Change,” supporting Senate bills to support urban agriculture, among other initiatives.

• Hazard Mitigation and Disaster Recovery Planning Division (HDMR). HMDR has contributed several resources for all planners including PAS Reports 576 “Planning for Post-Disaster Recovery: Next Generation” and 560 “Hazard Mitigation: Integrating Best Practices into Planning.” We are currently leading efforts in the development of a documentary film on the role of planners and planning in helping communities address challenges posed by natural disasters and climate change.

• Public Schools and Communities Division (PS+CD). Climate change and resiliency planning are important components of the school planning puzzle and impact all aspects of our Division members’ work, which varies widely from the bricks and mortar components of school siting, sustainable construction techniques and materials, utilities procurement and energy conservation, to transportation modalities, routing, and vehicles to curriculum and instruction.  Apropos of this year’s extreme temperatures and the impact on students and teachers, schools and districts grapple with the increasing challenge of providing adequate services and facilities as weather conditions worsen.

• Regional and Intergovernmental Planning Division (RIDP). Climate change is at the forefront of many Division members' interests and concerns. In order to better prepare and adapt to climate change impacts, planning must occur at a regional scale, and coordination between different levels of government is imperative.  RIPD has recently supported a series of publications entitled "emerging trends in regional planning." Amongst these were "Collaborative Planning for Climate Resilience," "Sustainability Planning in Metropolitan Los Angeles: An Overview," and "Regional Water Planning for Climate Resilience." Climate change was also a topic of our 2020 Regional Futures Forum.

• Transportation Planning Division (TPD).  TPD is acutely aware of how transportation affects climate change around the world.  Many of our members work on initiatives to support APA transportation policies stated in our Surface Transportation Policy Guide.  For example, many TPD members help communities with navigating current federal funding for electrification and charging stations.  One of our own Board members is the National Zero-Emission Vehicle Planning Lead for a large consulting firm.  We have recently published the 2022 State of Transportation Report, in which we included submissions that highlight climate change planning in transportation.  TPD provides our support to this very important survey and data collection effort.

• Urban Design and Preservation Division (UDPD).  UDPD and our colleagues in affiliated design and preservation professions are strongly interested in how climate change affects historic preservation and the design of our communities. In particular, we have initiated a collaboration with the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and part of our future work will examine the impacts of climate change on our nation’s most treasured historic places threatened by flooding, fires, and other hazards. Our Division is a partner in October's “Cities in Transition” urban design symposium with the American Institute of Architects, which includes a focused discussion on “How Can Cities Increase Their Resilience to Climate Change.”

• The Women & Planning Division (WPD). WPD is acutely aware of the disparate impacts of climate destabilization on women in the communities we serve. The impacts experienced by women of color are even more profound. Urgent and meaningful actions are immediately needed to mitigate the impacts of climate change, locally and globally. Women & Planning pledge our support to ensure a successful outcome.