Environment
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ACEEE: 'Ambitious' energy efficiency could halve US emissions by 2050
If cities are to hit climate goals and remain in step with targets outlined in the Paris climate agreement, they will need to take bold action.
By Chris Teale • Sept. 19, 2019 -
San Jose, CA to become largest US city to ban natural gas
If a final ordinance is approved, electric-only development will be required for most residential buildings, making way for increased EV infrastructure.
By Katie Pyzyk • Sept. 19, 2019 -
Knight Foundation invests $925K in Miami's Underline park
The 10-mile, 120-acre linear park, touted as Miami's answer to New York's High Line, will use the funds for tech investments.
By Jason Plautz • Sept. 18, 2019 -
Chicago to pilot less invasive water main repair techniques
The city has replaced 716 miles of water mains since 2012 which has largely involved tree removal, resulting in outcry from residents and officials.
By Jason Plautz • Sept. 17, 2019 -
City Tech Collaborative targets 2020 for putting heat mapping tool in urban planners' hands
Following the proof-of-concept period, the tool could be expanded to include any city for which satellite data is available.
By Katie Pyzyk • Sept. 11, 2019 -
City grids risk being overwhelmed by EV growth
Electricity supplies could suffer without partnerships between utilities and city agencies, The Rocky Mountain Institute and Seattle City Light warned.
By Chris Teale • Sept. 09, 2019 -
How universities are leading mass timber research
Despite buzz around its Toronto waterfront project, Sidewalk Labs isn't the first major group to work with mass timber in North America.
By Cailin Crowe • Sept. 04, 2019 -
NYC doubles curbside rain gardens in green infrastructure program
The gardens trap rainwater to help prevent flooding and combined sewer overflows and also improve air quality and beautify neighborhoods.
By Chris Teale • Aug. 30, 2019 -
Austin, TX to increase green job access for people of color
The initiative will disperse grants between $10,000 and $50,000 each for equitable workforce development and green job opportunities.
By Cailin Crowe • Aug. 28, 2019 -
Utah researchers analyze transit data to determine pollution offsets
A University of Utah study found the state's public transit system offsets 1.5% of the region's on-road greenhouse gas emissions.
By Katie Pyzyk • Aug. 28, 2019 -
Columbus, OH is first non-compliant city to meet ozone air quality standard
By increasing mass transit and EV use, the city reduced vehicle emissions and nitrogen oxide, one of the biggest sources of urban pollution.
By Jason Plautz • Aug. 26, 2019 -
Study: Florida, California home to most limited evacuation routes
As natural disasters intensify, StreetLight Data used machine-learning algorithms to identify the U.S. communities with the highest vehicle evacuation risk.
By Kristin Musulin • Aug. 22, 2019 -
Mississippi's largest city ends recycling
After trying for months, Jackson officials found a way out of their curbside agreement. Questions remain about how it happened — and what comes next.
By Cole Rosengren • Aug. 20, 2019 -
Study: Breathing dirty air is like smoking a pack a day
Although emissions of air pollutants have dropped in recent decades, recent EPA data shows that air quality has actually declined in many cities.
By Jason Plautz • Aug. 16, 2019 -
Multifunctional city parks can aid residents during earthquake recovery, study says
Researchers at a university in Canada explored how cities can use open spaces as community resource hubs after natural disasters.
By Kira Barrett • Aug. 14, 2019 -
Seattle City Council passes resolution advancing Green New Deal
Council members' decision, which lays out climate-friendly development strategies, was met with a standing ovation from spectators.
By Katie Pyzyk • Aug. 14, 2019 -
100 experts issue dire warning about urban sprawl's impact on climate change
The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change warned cities to quickly change how they use land and water resources.
By Jason Plautz • Aug. 13, 2019 -
Appeals court ruling undercuts FCC's plan for speedy 5G rollout
A three-judge panel in the U.S. Court of Appeals’ D.C. Circuit said it cannot bypass historical and environmental reviews of small cell sites.
By Chris Teale • Aug. 12, 2019 -
Austin, TX City Council declares 'climate emergency'
The ordinance calls for immediate action, requiring the city council to track accountability and reporting structure goals.
By Katie Pyzyk • Aug. 12, 2019 -
Los Angeles County passes ambitious climate plan
The OurCounty plan calls for eliminating fossil fuel production, increasing the sourcing of water locally and engaging disadvantaged communities in decision-making.
By Jason Plautz • Aug. 08, 2019 -
OpinionFighting extreme heat in cities with urban design
To adapt to climate change, we need to build cities like we did in the past – moving toward a climate-responsive urban design, centered on people.
By Adam Freed and Jacob Koch • Aug. 08, 2019 -
Q&AGoing green with Los Angeles' first city forest officer
In the newly created position, Rachel Malarich will help plant 90,000 trees across the city and unify the departments handling the urban canopy.
By Katie Pyzyk • Aug. 06, 2019 -
Group to leverage AI, supercomputers for smart city planning
A team out of the Global City Teams Challenge will use advanced technology to trial scenarios around some of the biggest urban issues.
By Chris Teale • Aug. 06, 2019 -
Study: E-scooters more harmful to environment than e-bikes, some buses
A report from NC State University urges scooter companies to make their vehicles out of more durable materials, and to use energy-efficient vans when distributing scooters.
By Chris Teale • Aug. 05, 2019 -
Miami community shares concerns on rising sea level, environmental injustice
Residents voiced two major themes: a desire for education about climate impacts and the role citizens can play, and "an interest in integrated solutions that aren’t just gray infrastructure."
By Jason Plautz • Aug. 01, 2019
