Environment
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Study: 'Artificial snow' could save ice sheet, prevent sea level rise
Controversial geo-engineering and other drastic measures may need to occur if climate change policy solutions don't happen quickly enough.
By Jason Plautz • July 19, 2019 -
Mayors call for new 'Marshall Plan,' federal resiliency office to fight climate change
A committee of 10 Democrats promised to continue studying climate change, holding more hearings and fostering partnerships with governments at all other levels as well as with the private sector.
By Chris Teale • July 18, 2019 -
Berkeley, CA sets historic law banning natural gas from new buildings
Berkeley is the first U.S. city to pass such a measure, designed to curb GHG emissions and prepare new buildings for electric infrastructure.
By Kristin Musulin • July 18, 2019 -
Deep DiveReduce, reuse, rescoot? A look at e-scooters' long-term sustainability
Scooters are touted as a low-cost, clean form of transportation, yet their life span is far from sustainable — and their parts could pose a danger to recycling facilities.
By Katie Pyzyk • July 17, 2019 -
US cities average a failing grade on UN sustainability report card
Lagging execution of the Sustainable Development Goals should "provide flashing red lights" to communities, according to the network's director.
By Kristin Musulin • July 15, 2019 -
77% of global cities will experience 'striking shift' in climate by 2050
Nearly a quarter of global cities will experience extreme climate conditions not currently found in any city, a new report in journal PLOS One found.
By Katie Pyzyk • July 12, 2019 -
National parks get EV chargers through BMW partnership
One hundred EV chargers are being installed at parks across the country with industry-standard plugs for use across different brands.
By Jason Plautz • July 10, 2019 -
Boston's first move on 'zero waste' plan indicates large-scale ambitions
The city released an RFI seeking ideas for a program to reduce the estimated 54,700 tons of residential food and yard waste disposed of each year.
By Cole Rosengren • July 10, 2019 -
Mayors left out of Trump's environmental leadership address
The president applauded his administration's work on environmental stewardship in an address on Monday. There was no praise for leadership on the local level.
By Kristin Musulin • July 09, 2019 -
Hawaii to combat climate change with carbon-injected concrete
The green concrete can reduce embodied carbon by 25 pounds per cubic yard, according to the state's transportation department.
By Jason Plautz • July 08, 2019 -
Deep DiveThe rise of urban food forests
Cities like Atlanta and Philadelphia recognize that a park can be more than just a green space when visitors are allowed to pick fruits, vegetables and nuts.
By Katie Pyzyk • July 02, 2019 -
US mayors recognized for climate protection efforts
Los Angeles and Fayetteville, AR took home top awards and 10 other cities received honorable mentions at the 13th Mayors’ Climate Protection Awards.
By Jason Plautz • July 02, 2019 -
NYC declares 'climate emergency' in symbolic resolution
It became the largest U.S. city to pass such a measure, calling for urgent action to prevent "more climate injustices and more Hurricane Sandy’s."
By Jason Plautz • June 28, 2019 -
US PIRG calls out 9 wasteful highway projects
The group's fifth Highway Boondoggles report says the projects, which collectively will cost $25 billion, will harm communities and the environment.
By Katie Pyzyk • June 26, 2019 -
London plans 'car-free day' to draw attention to air pollution crisis
Mayor Sadiq Khan hopes the effort, being held on Sept. 22, will encourage Londoners to "see the city from a different perspective."
By Jason Plautz • June 24, 2019 -
New York approves landmark climate bill
Gov. Andrew Cuomo called the bill the "the most aggressive climate change legislation in the nation."
By Jason Plautz • June 20, 2019 -
EPA issues Clean Power Plan replacement as coal bailout remains sidelined
"Fossil fuels will continue to be a key part of the energy mix," EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler said at a press conference Wednesday.
By Robert Walton • June 19, 2019 -
Boston aims for 80% recycling rate, plans organics pilot
A new "zero waste" plan outlines 30 recommendations involving food waste, textiles, recycling education and more.
By Cole Rosengren • June 19, 2019 -
Swedish university designs air pollution sensor for streetlights
The optical nano-sensor was developed as a cheaper air monitoring device that can detect pollution in hard-to-read areas.
By Jason Plautz • June 18, 2019 -
Bloomberg: Waiting on climate action 'isn't good enough'
The former New York mayor injects urgency into the fight against climate change, signaling that local, state and business leaders should head the initiative.
By Jason Plautz • June 14, 2019 -
Pittsburgh gets state funds for EV chargers, fleet vehicles
The grant, matched by the city, came from the Pennsylvania Department of Environment Protection's Alternative Incentive program.
By Jason Plautz • June 11, 2019 -
Bloomberg pledges $500M to move country away from coal, natural gas
The former New York City mayor's Beyond Carbon campaign will seek to close remaining coal plants by 2030 and use 100% clean energy.
By Jason Plautz • June 10, 2019 -
Study: Meeting Paris Agreement goals could avert hundreds of heat wave deaths
If global warming is limited to 2 degrees Celsius, up to 1,980 annual heat-related deaths could be avoided across 15 U.S. cities.
By Jason Plautz • June 10, 2019 -
OpinionParks and greenspace must be part of any climate solution
Aside from reducing carbon pollution, cities must help people adapt to severe weather that is already affecting communities — especially the most vulnerable.
By Diane Regas • June 06, 2019 -
Toronto releases its first resilience strategy
The strategy aims to build on existing smart city efforts and provide a model for other coastal cities looking to respond to climate change.
By Jason Plautz • June 05, 2019
