Environment: Page 2

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

Houston unveils first Climate Action Plan

Houston is home to one of the largest rates of per capita GHG emissions in the country, yet it wasn't until Hurricane Harvey in 2017 that the city's perception of climate urgency turned on its head.

By Kristin Musulin • April 24, 2020

California cities top air pollution list — again

The American Lung Association’s annual "State of the Air" found warmer temperatures are contributing to widespread smog and soot levels in U.S. cities.

By David Oliver • April 21, 2020

New Zealand to fund 'pop-up' bike lanes, sidewalk widening amid pandemic

The transportation minister has called on cities to apply for the funding, which will support tactical urbanism projects to improve cyclist and pedestrian safety.

By Cailin Crowe • April 16, 2020

'Living wall' in Dallas to capture 1,600 pounds of CO2 annually

The wall, made up of over 40,000 plants, will have internet of things (IoT) sensors to monitor plant health and panels to distribute water and nutrients.

By Chris Teale • April 16, 2020

Experts blast EPA move on air quality following pollution link to COVID-19 deaths

"To whom does Wheeler answer when he makes life or death determinations?" one legal expert asked. "It's a moral question. It's not just a legal question."

By Catherine Morehouse • April 15, 2020

Dishwashers and data laid the groundwork for Berkeley, CA's landmark waste reduction ordinance

Pre-coronavirus, many of the city's restaurants were adapting to one of the country's most aggressive ordinances around single-use plastic waste. COVID-19's impact on those plans remains to be seen. 

By Karine Vann • April 13, 2020

Higher air pollution linked to coronavirus deaths: study

Harvard University research is the first to make an explicit connection between air pollution and COVID-19 deaths in the United States.

By Chris Teale • April 08, 2020

Ann Arbor, MI City Council adopts $1B climate plan

Staff revised the A2Zero plan to better reflect the long-term costs of action or inaction, and to take into account how strategies may evolve as technology and climate changes.

By Chris Teale • UPDATED: June 4, 2020 at 10:14 a.m.

Q&A

The CARES Act won't support cleantech, but cities still can

Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator CEO Matt Petersen is urging cities to align priorities around COVID-19 mitigation and climate action while the federal government sleeps on funding.

By Kristin Musulin • April 03, 2020

Libraries in Helsinki pause air quality data collection

Libraries that were renting out wearable devices for air quality detection have stopped the initiative due to coronavirus, but are optimistic the project will track notable trends when resumed.

By Cailin Crowe • March 25, 2020

Deep Dive

COVID-19 may sport the thinnest silver lining: a cleaner climate

There is evidence of declining carbon emissions and improved air quality as societies lock down. Experts say potential stimulus funding could present an opportunity to perpetuate these changes.

By Chris Teale • March 19, 2020