Environment

Groups urge $22B in federal clean energy investment as sector job losses top 600K

In a letter to Congressional leaders, dozens of companies and advocacy groups proposed $22 billion in spending over five years to improve the safety, energy efficiency and resilience of critical public facilities.

By Robert Walton • June 03, 2020

Montreal tree inventory project adapts to COVID-19 limitations

With field work suspended, researchers at Concordia University are asking residents of the surrounding neighborhood to survey their own private trees. 

By Chris Teale • June 03, 2020

Massachusetts hopes 'localized approach' to GHG inventory can spread

The Metropolitan Area Planning Council rolled out tools for local communities to collect and track emissions data, something officials believe could be replicated in other regions.

By Chris Teale • June 02, 2020

Sponsored by TSI

Growing cities to monitor air quality for urban planning

Official air quality measurements are monitored by large, fixed field stations. With advancements in air sensor technology, smaller and more portable monitors are now available, which means more monitors can be placed around a community to increase the spatial resolution of air quality assessments.

Cities need more expertise, utility support in 100% renewables push: report

The authors said local leaders should invest more time to ensure the energy transition is equitable and does not leave marginalized communities behind.

By Chris Teale • June 01, 2020

A sneak peak at San Francisco's new low-carbon neighborhood

The city unanimously approved plans to build a 29-acre sustainable, transportation-efficient community on the site of a former century-old fossil fuel power plant. 

By Cailin Crowe • May 29, 2020

Koloni offers deal to save JUMP bikes from scrap

The bike-sharing platform, which worked with Spin in 2018 to redeploy old bikes, offered to pay Uber 250% over the price it receives to scrap JUMP bikes.

By Kristin Musulin • UPDATED: May 29, 2020 at 10:51 a.m.

Solar 'growing rapidly' in US cities: report

Fifty cities have more than doubled their total installed solar photovoltaic capacity since 2013, according to a new report by Environment America.

By Chris Teale • May 28, 2020

5 cities join national initiative to overhaul public spaces

Lexington, KY; Macon, GA; San Jose, CA; Miami and Minneapolis joined Reimagining the Civic Commons to support economic, social and environmental goals. 

By Cailin Crowe • May 28, 2020

Powering EVs is cheaper than diesel, gas in most metro hubs

A report found powering electric vehicles could save fleet operators costs in 21 of the largest 25 U.S. cities including Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle.

By Guy Burdick • May 28, 2020

Columbus, OH exceeds EV adoption goal

Local residents have purchased more than 3,300 electric vehicles over the past three years as part of its $10 million Paul G. Allen Family Foundation grant. 

By Cailin Crowe • May 27, 2020

Deep Dive

Observing recovery through a climate 'magnifying glass'

COVID-19 presented cities with fresh observations of climate trends, marking a crucial time for leaders to weave climate change mitigation into recovery efforts.

By Chris Teale • May 26, 2020

Deep Dive

The 'new normal': City sectors confront post-coronavirus realities

With costs of the pandemic coming into focus as recovery efforts persist, Smart Cities Dive analyzed how leaders across various departments can use lessons from the COVID-19 crisis to rebuild.

By Chris Teale • May 26, 2020

Opinion

Visionaries must step forward to advance water infrastructure

The current crisis has made clear that access to clean water is closely related to our ability to withstand shocks to the system. Building sustainable infrastructure should be a vision we can all get behind.

By Jon Freedman • May 26, 2020

Rubicon report cites $208M potential savings for cities using smart waste platform

The smart waste and recycling tech company played up its municipal offerings and emphasized the "waste wake-up call" many cities are facing post-China's scrap import ban. 

By Cole Rosengren • May 22, 2020

Are drones more energy efficient than delivery vans?

Gartner estimates drone fleets could reduce operation costs by 70% due to faster delivery times, but other research indicates drone operations, at scale, could be up to 10 times less energy efficient than vans.

By Morgan Forde • May 21, 2020

Minneapolis tops annual park ranking as budget cuts loom

While cities count economic losses from coronavirus and look to trim budgets, the Trust for Public Land fears park spending may be the first to go. 

By Chris Teale • May 20, 2020

Blockchain-based renewables project in Los Angeles wins $9M state grant

An initiative in the San Gabriel Valley looks to provide affordable, locally produced energy to 28,000 residents in a disadvantaged community.

By Chris Teale • May 19, 2020

Miami pilots e-cargo bikes to reduce congestion, pollution

The city partnered with DHL and Reef Technologies to pilot the bikes for last-mile deliveries, a move that's expected to reduce 101,000 kg of CO2e annually.

By Cailin Crowe • May 18, 2020

St. Louis' building efficiency standards pave way for the Midwest

New legislation in St. Louis marks a major step forward in reducing building emissions, which make up for 80% of all greenhouse gas emissions in the city.

By Chris Teale • May 12, 2020

Opinion

Preparing for the return of rush hour

Cities have a fleeting opportunity to get smarter about solving gridlock and emission problems — albeit in unprecedented conditions — before traffic returns.

By Sasha Sud • May 11, 2020

Opinion

3 steps for improving building resiliency post-coronavirus

There is an unprecedented opportunity to ditch the business-as-usual approach to commercial construction and redefine sustainable buildings.

By Casey Talon • May 07, 2020

Global GHG emissions could fall 8% in 2020 amid pandemic: IEA

Coronavirus has reduced emissions and energy demand, but a recovery without clean investments could jeopardize those gains, the group said.

By Chris Teale • May 01, 2020

11 mayors form C40's coronavirus recovery task force

Mayors from around the world will convene to explore how local governments can drive economic recovery that best prioritizes health, equality and climate.

By Chris Teale • April 30, 2020

Transportation Electrification Partnership proposes $150B federal stimulus package

The proposal calls for investments in zero emission infrastructure, EV adoption, workforce development and other areas to build climate resilience amid COVID-19.

By Cailin Crowe • April 27, 2020