Environment
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Wikimedia Commons
Ride-hailing pollutes 70% more than trips it replaces: study
The Union of Concerned Scientists points to significant emissions from "deadheading," which takes up 40% of ride-hailing miles traveled. Lyft, however, says the report is "misleading."
By Jason Plautz • Feb. 26, 2020 -
Charlotte, NC's green tariff solar deal could spark wider trend in cities
The city council approved a 35-megawatt project to generate 24% of its municipal electricity, making it the most populous U.S. city to acquire large-scale solar through a green tariff.
By Chris Teale • Feb. 25, 2020 -
The 'water literacy' lessons cities can learn from Cape Town
The city almost became the first to run out of water in 2018. Since then, local leaders have put the onus on residents to help avoid repeats.
By Chris Teale • Feb. 24, 2020 -
12 cities with curbside recycling expansion potential: report
The Recycling Partnership's report on the future of U.S. recycling argues that investment in these cities would yield "some of the highest, single-city jumps in material recovery," reaching 1.62 million total households.
By E.A. Crunden • Feb. 20, 2020 -
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CDP's 'A List' for climate action honors 105 cities
To make the list, cities must have a citywide emissions inventory, a reduction target, a public climate action plan and a climate adaptation plan.
By Jason Plautz • Feb. 18, 2020 -
LA mayor kicks off 'Green New Deal' with urgent action plan
The directive signals the start of what the mayor is calling a "Decade of Action" against climate change, laying the groundwork for the city's climate goals.
By Jason Plautz • Feb. 11, 2020 -
WRI 'Prize for Cities' seeks inclusive climate projects
City-level climate challenges offer a lens into broader equality issues. The WRI Ross Center is hoping to tackle both issues at once in its next competition.
By Kristin Musulin • Feb. 11, 2020 -
E.A. Crunden
Congress ramps up scrutiny on recycling amid renewed calls for federal help
The collapse of international end markets and heightened concerns over the struggles U.S. cities face have changed the conversation around recycling.
By E.A. Crunden • Feb. 10, 2020 -
Lime pledges zero-emission operations fleet by 2030
The company is looking to further its sustainability efforts following a 2019 study that called out operators' use of gas-powered re-distribution vans.
By Chris Teale • Feb. 07, 2020 -
ACEEE: Honolulu, NYC lead clean energy resilience plans
A study found few cities include comprehensive initiatives for energy efficiency or renewable power in their resilience strategies.
By Katie Pyzyk • Jan. 31, 2020 -
House Dems put climate at center of $760B infrastructure plan
The Moving Forward Framework would invest heavily in roads, transit and water systems, with efforts to cut emissions woven throughout.
By Chris Teale • Jan. 30, 2020 -
Photo illustration by Brian Tucker / photo by rclassenlayouts via Getty Images
Deep DiveThe cost and confusion of cleaning PFAS contamination
A lack of federal regulations has left cities scrambling to understand the health risks of PFAS and the most cost-effective ways to get it out of drinking water.
By Kristin Musulin • Jan. 29, 2020 -
LA Sanitation
LA commits to 100% electric sanitation fleet by 2035. Other cities aren't ready to follow
LASAN Director Enrique Zaldivar pledged to procure only electric vehicles in two years and gradually convert the fleet. While the market evolves, adoption is far from widespread.
By E.A. Crunden • Jan. 29, 2020 -
Report: 108M Americans face unhealthy air quality
Air quality breached health limits for more than 100 days in 89 cities in 2018, according to a new analysis of EPA pollution records.
By Jason Plautz • Jan. 28, 2020 -
Bird
Q&ABird exec: The scooter 'is really just the beginning' of sustainable mobility
Sustainability head Melinda Hanson believes 2020 could be a big year for dockless scooter companies to cut emissions while encouraging safer streets.
By Chris Teale • Jan. 23, 2020 -
Deep Dive
NYC's roofs are getting a sustainable makeover
It's been two months since New York's Sustainable Roof Laws, part of the Climate Mobilization Act, took effect. Now architects and officials must decide: Are green roof systems or solar systems best?
By Cailley LaPara • Jan. 22, 2020 -
Opinion
3 market shifts for intelligent buildings in 2020
This year will be the inflection point for decarbonization of buildings charioted by the business-relevant intelligent building solutions market.
By Casey Talon • Jan. 17, 2020 -
Ford Media Center
StreetLight Data ranks 100 metros in first climate impact index
The metro areas were ranked as the most low-impact based on vehicle miles traveled, bike and pedestrian commuting, and population density, among other metrics.
By Kristin Musulin • Jan. 16, 2020 -
Wikimedia Commons
Reps introduce TREES Act to expand urban canopies
The bill would create a grant program for free or reduced-cost tree planting services to lower energy costs and mitigate the impacts of climate change.
By Chris Teale • Jan. 16, 2020 -
Rising temperatures could increase injury deaths by 2,000 a year: study
If temperatures were to rise 1.5 °C above long-term averages, the U.S. would see an uptick in traffic accidents and suicides, among other injury deaths, according to a new study.
By Jason Plautz • Jan. 15, 2020 -
Getty Images
OpinionThe US can still lead the race to make cities smarter and more sustainable
Through software, AI and Big Data, cities are transforming the way they generate electricity, deliver drinking water and build the clean transportation systems of the future.
By Maryrose Sylvester • Jan. 15, 2020 -
Seattle to transition city-owned buildings away from fossil fuels
The first round of building electrification plans are due this summer after an executive order from Mayor Jenny Durkan advancing a Green New Deal.
By Katie Pyzyk • Jan. 10, 2020 -
Getty Images
NYC's Circular City program to focus on sustainability in 2020
The joint effort from New Lab and the New York City Economic Development Corporation will test solutions for the city's transition to a circular economy.
By Chris Teale • Jan. 10, 2020 -
Sidewalk Labs pilot aims to improve recycling habits
The Clean Recycling Pilot in Toronto will identify and sort waste, then provide feedback to the public in a report on how they can do it better.
By Chris Teale • Jan. 08, 2020 -
California to enforce light bulb efficiency standards despite Trump reversal
The state's efficiency rules are a direct response to the Trump administration's rollbacks, which could cost $12 billion a year in lost energy savings by 2025.
By Jason Plautz • Jan. 03, 2020
