Planners have an important role to play in helping communities
meet energy needs, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and adapt to
a changing climate. While most planners recognize the
significance of these issues, they are still working to
translate these imperatives into on-the-ground plans, actions,
and regulations. Planning for a New Energy and Climate Future,
the culmination of a three-year research and education project
on the integration of climate change and energy issues into
planning practice, was prepared by APA in collaboration with the
Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI), the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the University of
North Carolina Asheville. The report presents fundamental
information about energy and climate change, provides a
framework for how to integrate energy and climate into the
planning process, and offers strategies for communities to
address energy and climate across a variety of issues, including
development patterns, transportation, and economic