Environment

3 cities enter accelerator program to help achieve 100% zero-emissions commercial vehicles by 2030

Chicago, San Diego and San Jose, California, each won $100,000 to reduce emissions through local initiatives that include a cargo e-bike pilot and zero-emission neighborhood zone. 

By Cailin Crowe • Sept. 03, 2021

Cities use art to combat extreme urban heat

As urban areas struggle to cope with scorching temperatures, the Boston-area Metropolitan Area Planning Council is helping local leaders partner with community groups and artists to develop creative cooling infrastructure. 

By Kat Friedrich • Aug. 23, 2021

Cities to test commercial EV fleets, smart traffic, curbside management using federal funds

Los Angeles, Pittsburgh, and Santa Monica, California, are among the cities set to explore commercial electric trucks, smart loading zones in high-traffic areas, and other innovations with Energy Department funding.

By Jason Plautz • Aug. 17, 2021

As heat island effects worsen due to climate change, cities try to adapt

Cities are adding cooling measures like trees and lighter pavement to reduce their urban heat island effects as record temperatures sweep the nation.

By Katie Pyzyk • Aug. 17, 2021

Opinion

Curbing climate change requires an end to driving in cities

New U.N. climate report underscores the need to invest in infrastructure that encourages active mobility, get people back on public transit, and have cities reclaim roadways, writes Lime CEO Wayne Ting.

By Wayne Ting • Aug. 13, 2021

New initiative urges contractors to work with owners to reduce building emissions

The effort aims to create policies that lower emissions from the built environment, establish practices that shrink contractors' carbon footprint, and encourage clients to pursue more climate-friendly buildings.

By Joe Bousquin • Aug. 05, 2021

Despite limited participation, advocates see potential for Northeast transportation cap-and-invest plan

Only four of the over a dozen original participants of the Transportation and Climate Initiative signed on to a final program to cut transportation emissions. Backers say there's still a bright future.

By Jason Plautz • July 29, 2021

'We have got to do something': Cities behind on climate goals as extreme weather worsens

Funding and staffing shortfalls and a lack of buy-in from city workers are impeding progress, a Bloomberg Associates report states. It calls for savvy messaging and regional collaborations.

By Danielle McLean • July 27, 2021

Washington, DC-area utility outlines plan to meet city climate goals

The clean energy approach would include focuses on electric vehicles, building decarbonization and a variety of grid modernization technologies. The nation's capital is aiming for 100% renewable energy by 2032.

By Robert Walton • July 22, 2021

Billions more needed to address climate infrastructure needs of US cities: report

Cities need at least $10.6 billion to fund more than 300 sustainable infrastructure projects, according to a CDP survey of 97 U.S. cities. 

By Jason Plautz • July 20, 2021

Challenge to Berkeley gas regulation dismissed, a win for cities in carbon emissions fight

A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit last week that challenged the city's restrictions on natural gas in new low-rise residential buildings, a major boost for local governments looking to follow suit.

By Chris Teale • July 16, 2021

Chicago creates new waste strategy to tackle low recycling rate

Unlike other major cities like New York and Los Angeles, Chicago has not set a zero waste target. The city's chief sustainability officer says the focus now is more so on "interim steps," from reducing food waste to recycling textiles.

By Maria Rachal • July 16, 2021

Too few companies advocate for climate-friendly policies despite lofty goals: report

Only around 40% of the country's top 100 firms lobby for green legislation, according to sustainability nonprofit Ceres. We have "run out of time to waste," a spokesperson said.

By Chris Teale • July 13, 2021

Cities along Great Lakes will need $2B to address coastal damage: survey

Despite 95% of city officials reporting they’re highly or moderately concerned about coastal damage, just 11% say they have a “high level of capacity” to respond, a Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative survey finds.

By Jason Plautz • July 13, 2021

WRI names Rosario, Argentina, as 'Prize for Cities' winner

The city's sustainable food initiative, a program that addresses inequalities and the effects of climate change by providing low-income residents with access to underused land to grow food, led to its win.

By Chris Teale • June 29, 2021

San Diego, Houston detail paths for cities to purchase renewable energy

Meeting clean energy goals can require different tools like community choice aggregation and renewable energy certificates, EPA and city officials say. 

By Jason Plautz • June 22, 2021

New bill would tax polluters, redirect funds to impacted communities

The Save Our Future Act would invest millions in emissions reduction programs and help areas reliant on fossil fuels transition away from them through direct payments, career training, business development and other programs.

By Chris Teale • June 18, 2021

Low-carbon concrete bill advances in New York

The bill takes aim at the emissions-heavy built environment by developing state guidelines for using greener concrete products and climate performance standards for state construction projects.

By Jason Plautz • June 14, 2021

Dallas adopts its first urban forest master plan

The plan follows an earlier heat island management study that found the nation's ninth-most-populous city was heating up more rapidly than every other city in the U.S. outside of Phoenix.

By Maria Rachal • June 11, 2021

Baltimore contractor pilots low-carbon concrete product

The new concrete formulation is designed to cut the material's embodied carbon by 40% compared to ordinary Portland cement-based concrete, the maker says.

By Jeffrey Steele • June 04, 2021

Tampa, Florida, creates resilience plan to prepare for next crisis

The road map, which officials say is the first to be released during or after the coronavirus pandemic, calls for more affordable housing and broadband access in addition to climate-ready infrastructure.

By Chris Teale • June 03, 2021

Lower-income ZIP code residents feel worse effects of extreme heat, ozone pollution: study

Policymakers should prioritize resources in poorer neighborhoods and develop better warning systems, according to a study analyzing hospitalizations across ZIP codes in California.

By Jason Plautz • May 28, 2021

Republicans include $4B for EVs in 2nd counteroffer to Biden infrastructure plan

The Republicans' proposal would spend $928 billion on infrastructure over the next eight years, a $360 billion increase over their previous proposal. But EV advocates say the plan still falls short. 

By Catherine Morehouse • May 28, 2021

Washington, DC, reclaims top spot as best city for parks

The Trust for Public Land's rankings measured park equity access for the first time in the index's 10-year history, noting that while many cities have made strides, plenty of work still lies ahead.  

By Chris Teale • May 27, 2021

With more extreme weather on horizon, FEMA resilience program's dollars to double

The Biden administration's $1 billion injection for the nascent Pre-Disaster Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities program comes as national leaders aim to "categorically shift" disaster spending from reactive to proactive.

By Maria Rachal • May 26, 2021