Environment

Study: Sea level rise threatens 2.4M US homes

UCS found the hardest hit communities will be in Louisiana, Maryland, New Jersey and North Carolina. But they didn't simply offer a doom and gloom report without hope for reversing the negative findings.

By Katie Pyzyk • June 22, 2018
Rubicon brings smart waste tech to Montgomery, AL

The technology will provide data on vehicle patterns and routing to help the city's sanitation department improve efficiency and customer service.

By Kristin Musulin • June 20, 2018
Geotab's new website unlocks key infrastructure datasets

More than 1 million commercial vehicles are equipped with Geotab telematics, leveraging billions of data points to help visualize challenges, like congestion and poor road conditions, and develop solutions.

By Kristin Musulin • June 19, 2018
DC to kick off federal census of its urban forest

The count will allow city officials to assess the state of the tree canopy and identify areas for growth and any pests that will need removal.

By Chris Teale • June 14, 2018
Panelists: More cities are tackling national, global issues

During the Chicago Forum on Global Cities, leaders navigated the topics of climate change, trade and immigration policies in a sea change from just a few years ago.

By Katie Pyzyk • June 13, 2018
Avoiding solo cities: The benefits of tackling problems as a unified metro region

Collaborating with nearby jurisdictions creates economy of scale and better odds for success, panelists said at the recent Chicago Forum on Global Cities.

By Katie Pyzyk • June 12, 2018
Japan-Thailand Millennium Town plans to foster a smarter community

The planned smart city outside Bangkok promises to use Japanese retirees to educate local people, as well as have futuristic technology like maglev trains.

By Chris Teale • June 11, 2018
Panelists share what works (and what doesn't) in urban modernization

Leaders from around the world took the stage at the Chicago Forum on Global Cities to discuss how cities become economic powerhouses.

By Katie Pyzyk • June 08, 2018
What Mary Meeker's 2018 trends report signals for smart cities

Increased Wi-Fi access, more home-sharing and the benefits of ride-hailing over car ownership are among the findings with significant implications for urban dwellers.

By Kristin Musulin • June 05, 2018
Nonprofit touts benefits of housing deconstruction over demolition

Cities can encourage material reuse and recycling by incorporating deconstruction principles in C&D waste diversion ordinances.

By Katie Pyzyk • June 05, 2018
Report: World's highest carbon footprints in Seoul, Guangzhou, NYC

A recent study, which measured the carbon footprints of 13,000 cities, found that 100 cities were responsible for 18% of the world's carbon emissions.

By Jason Plautz • June 05, 2018
Boston launches initiative to make city, transit stops more playful

"Playful Boston" will test how spaces and interventions could impact community interactions and civic engagement.

By Jason Plautz • June 04, 2018
Bloomberg Philanthropies launches $70M American Cities Climate Challenge

The announcement comes exactly one year after President Trump withdrew the U.S. from the Paris Agreement, spurring local governments to pursue climate action despite disengagement from the federal government.

By Kristin Musulin • June 01, 2018
Recent floods overshadow ongoing mitigation projects in Ellicott City, MD

After significant investment following 2016 floods where only 30% of recovery efforts had been completed, the city has once again been devastated by the latest storms.

By Chris Teale • May 30, 2018
Report: Most large US cities earn high marks for public health policies

The CityHealth initiative explored nine policy areas, including affordable housing, Complete Streets and pre-K, in the 40 largest U.S. cities.

By Chris Teale • May 25, 2018
Pittsburgh sets goal of 50% energy reduction in revised climate plan

Behind local leadership and strong public support, the plan also calls for the city to turn its operations to 100% renewable energy and to adopt a 100% fossil fuel-free vehicle fleet.

By Jason Plautz • May 24, 2018
Report: Spending on urban parks increased in 2018, but more access needed

The Trust For Public Land found that cities spent $7.5 billion on parks in 2018, while 70% of U.S. residents live within a 10-minute walk of a park.

By Chris Teale • May 23, 2018
C40 Cities launches global food waste management 'guide'

The report, co-authored with the World Biogas Association, outlines the sources and impact of food waste and an overview of treatment technologies for city leaders.

By Kristin Musulin • May 18, 2018
Siemens: Los Angeles must transform energy, transit systems to hit sustainability goals

The report calls for the city to move to 100% renewable electricity and 45% passenger travel by transit and active transport by 2050.

By Kristin Musulin • May 17, 2018
USDA Forest Service: Cities losing 36M trees a year

A study found that urban tree canopies declined in 45 states, and researchers warned of the environmental effects of continued losses.

By Chris Teale • May 11, 2018
San Francisco to install smart trash receptacles citywide

Each Bigbelly container is solar powered, is equipped with an automatic compactor and has technology that alerts collectors when it is full.

By Kristin Musulin • May 11, 2018
DC approves bill to incentivize residential composting

The Residential Composting Incentives Amendment Act of 2017 establishes a rebate of up to $75 for residents who install a home composting or vermicomposting system.

By Cathy Plume
Environmental group calls on cities to accelerate electric school bus adoption

A report urges a quicker move away from diesel vehicles, which contribute to greater emissions but are half as expensive as greener alternatives.

By Chris Teale • May 07, 2018
Waste tech company expands smart cities program to more than 20 locations

Rubicon's residential ambitions are coming into focus, with plans to start competing for collection contracts via its independent hauling partners.

By Cole Rosengren • April 30, 2018
EPA grants $54.3M for brownfields cleanup

The funding will cover communities' contaminated site cleanups and redevelopment.

By Katie Pyzyk • April 28, 2018