Environment
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Green stimulus could create $280B in economic benefits: C40
The C40 Global Mayors Recovery Task Force said investing relief money in solutions to fight climate change could prevent 270,000 premature deaths globally and create over 6 million jobs in the U.S. alone.
By Chris Teale • Oct. 28, 2020 -
Danielle Ternes
10 statewide ballot measures to watch on Election Day 2020
Of 120 statewide ballot measures, Smart Cities Dive identified 10 that could have lasting implications on the development of smart cities far beyond 2020.
By Kristin Musulin , Chris Teale , Cailin Crowe • Oct. 27, 2020 -
Danielle Ternes/Smart Cities Dive
Deep DiveBallot billions: Behind the efforts to fund and finance climate action
In a year that virtually depleted municipal budgets, ballot-derived tax and funding measures can be crucial to support city-level climate action. Outside of these measures, how else can cities secure cash?
By Kristin Musulin , Chris Teale , Cailin Crowe • Oct. 27, 2020 -
Fotolia
Cities' GHG emissions reduction efforts, by the numbers
A new Brookings report assessed the nation's many climate action plans to check if cities are meeting their emissions reduction commitments.
By Kristin Musulin • Oct. 23, 2020 -
Lime, WWF partner to promote clean transportation
The micromobility giant and conservation leader will run joint education and advocacy campaigns in a bid to enhance mobility options and safer streets.
By Chris Teale • Oct. 22, 2020 -
Swinerton
Sponsored by #forestproudA climate solution hidden in plain sight
Hillsboro, OR opened the doors to a new community center this month that provides both critical infrastructure and a powerful climate solution.
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GoodFreePhotos
Albuquerque, NM breaks ground on 50 MW solar field on tribal lands
The array, through a partnership with utility PNM and the Jicarilla Apache Nation, will help the city get 88% of its electricity from renewable energy by the end of 2021.
By Chris Teale • Oct. 16, 2020 -
Map of the Ridgecrest earthquakes (California Integrated Seismic Network)
Weaving earthquake risk into city resiliency plans
All U.S. communities, even those outside California, should consider earthquakes when planning and building infrastructure, said UCLA professor Scott Brandenberg.
By Adina Solomon • Oct. 12, 2020 -
Hyundai, UNDP launch 'for Tomorrow' campaign to support sustainable cities
The inaugural platform will crowdsource innovations to help achieve UN Sustainable Development Goal 11, which focuses on building safe, resilient and sustainable cities.
By Kristin Musulin • Oct. 09, 2020 -
Elected officials urge automakers to support cleaner cars
The Clean Cars Declaration, signed by more than 200 elected officials, called on manufacturers to drop their support for the Trump administration’s rollback of clean car standards.
By Chris Teale • Oct. 08, 2020 -
Permission granted by Reloop
Reloop looks to shake up circular economy policy progress
Elizabeth Balkan, formerly of the Natural Resources Defense Council and New York's Department of Sanitation, is leading the global platform's effort to support changes around packaging and recycling at all levels of government.
By Cole Rosengren • Oct. 08, 2020 -
The image by hendricks is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
NYC 'leapfrogs' to top of ACEEE clean energy scorecard
While many leading U.S. cities are boosting their efforts to achieve a clean energy future, more action will be needed from "lower-ranking" cities to truly move the needle nationally.
By Kristin Musulin • Oct. 06, 2020 -
Boston issues RFP for first urban forest plan
Mayor Marty Walsh said the 20-year plan will set tree canopy protection goals, respond to the challenges of climate change and improve quality of life.
By Chris Teale • Oct. 05, 2020 -
Screenshot via Climate Mayors webinar
Pittsburgh mayor: To push a green economy, speak to citizens' pocketbooks
In a Climate Mayors webinar on Thursday, mayors in the Ohio Valley region said people whose jobs rely on fossil fuels must not be left behind.
By Chris Teale • Oct. 02, 2020 -
Screenshot, Unlocking City Ambition
Google's EIE tool helps cities realize carbon-reduction potential
The urgency of climate action begs local-level officials to use available data tools and bypass traditional planning constraints, leaders said on a webinar.
By Kristin Musulin • Oct. 01, 2020 -
Duran-Ortiz, Mario. (2017). "Golden Gate bridge" [Photograph]. Retrieved from Flickr.
Bay Area mayors push back on remote work strategy
San Francisco Mayor London Breed and San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo said they “cannot support” the proposal amid concerns about the vitality of downtown economies.
By Chris Teale • UPDATED: Oct. 16, 2020 at 8:55 a.m. -
Julia von Alexander, former Southwestern University student
OpinionP3s hold the key to a clean energy future post-COVID
Making climate progress is still within our grasp, but the critical first step is to recognize the perks of collaboration, and then to reach across the aisle.
By Bill Prindle • Sept. 25, 2020 -
Permission granted by Houston Parks and Recreation Department
Houston sets its sights on a more equitable park system
The city is hoping to rewrite its history of "White public space" with greenspace investments in all communities, regardless of income level.
By Adina Solomon • Sept. 24, 2020 -
Max Pixel
California mandates all new passenger vehicle sales be zero-emission by 2035
The goal could reduce the state's greenhouse gas emissions over 35% from cars statewide, fast tracking California's climate goals as the state grapples with a series of destructive wildfires.
By Kavya Balaraman • Sept. 24, 2020 -
Permission granted by Esri
Mapping app uses air quality data to show local impacts
Air Quality Aware taps into data from entities including the EPA and U.S. Census Bureau to show current and future air quality and insights on vulnerable populations.
By Chris Teale • Sept. 23, 2020 -
Getty Images
House passes massive clean energy bill amid Trump veto threat
The House passed its Clean Economy Jobs and Innovation Act on Thursday, though the White House earlier this week indicated the president was likely to veto the bill, despite support in the Senate.
By Catherine Morehouse • UPDATED: Sept. 25, 2020 at 9:14 a.m. -
12 major cities pledge fossil fuel divestment
The C40 Cities-backed declaration "sends a huge signal to the marketplace" that governments are prioritizing a green COVID-19 recovery, said NYC climate advisor Dan Zarrilli.
By Kristin Musulin • Sept. 22, 2020 -
Transition to EVs could save $72B in health costs: American Lung Association
Widespread EV adoption and the resulting emission reductions could prevent more than 6,000 premature deaths in 2050, according to the organization.
By Chris Teale • Sept. 15, 2020 -
Q&A
NYC sanitation commissioner steps down for potential mayoral run
After more than six years at DSNY, Kathryn Garcia is setting her sights on a bigger role that would tap into her long resume of local governing experience.
By Cole Rosengren • Sept. 14, 2020 -
The image by Gabriel Civita Ramirez is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
'Aggressive' federal aid would push US to net zero emissions by 2050: report
America's Pledge released its fourth-annual U.S. climate analysis, finding to its "great surprise" that the pandemic is not slowing climate progress.
By Cailin Crowe • Sept. 14, 2020
