Resilience
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Courtesy of Verizon
Verizon-backed accelerator taps emerging tech to support climate justice
A new initiative aims to use 5G, big data and AI to help vulnerable communities build resiliency against the worst impacts of climate change.
By Chris Teale • April 26, 2021 -
Garcetti, Eric. (2021). "State of the City 2021" [Photograph]. Retrieved from Flickr.
3 key investments in LA Mayor Garcetti's proposed 'justice budget'
As the city recovers from the financial blows of the pandemic, the FY22 budget calls for record funding to address homelessness, a guaranteed basic income pilot and the exploration of a reparations commission.
By Cailin Crowe • April 22, 2021 -
Trendline
The Smart Cities Dive Outlook on 2021
As government leaders continue to reflect on the challenges of 2020, the team at Smart Cities Dive has outlined key trends and technologies likely to take hold in the year ahead.
By Smart Cities Dive staff -
Chip Somodevilla via Getty Images
Buttigieg defends climate elements of American Jobs plan
The transportation secretary told the Senate Appropriations Committee that President Joe Biden's infrastructure plan aims to have the country off fossil fuels and toward net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
By Kim Slowey • April 21, 2021 -
Equitable energy transition will require more than funding and job training, researchers say
Utilities, governments must ensure clean energy jobs provide stable, middle-class earnings, according to a new guide from Inclusive Economics and the Bloomberg Philanthropies American Cities Climate Challenge.
By Emma Penrod • April 19, 2021 -
Miller, Charles Edward. (2019). "Homeless Encampment Milwaukee Wisconsin 8-30-19_2538" [Photograph]. Retrieved from Flickr.
Cities spend millions on homeless encampment response: report
Local governments spend up to $8.5 million a year in response to encampments, according to the first federal encampment study, as a lack of affordable housing remains a key reason people are unhoused.
By Cailin Crowe • April 15, 2021 -
SC National Guard. (2018). "180925-Z-XH297-1108" [Photograph]. Retrieved from Flickr.
Businesses urge Biden admin to set ambitious federal climate target
Apple, Lime and hundreds of other businesses and investors signed a letter calling for the U.S. to cut greenhouse gas emissions at least 50% below 2005 levels by 2030.
By Cailin Crowe • April 13, 2021 -
jimmyweee. (2016). "Baltimore" [Photograph]. Retrieved from Flickr.
Baltimore resilience corps could be model for cities
Local leaders, the Rockefeller Foundation and other partners shared learning lessons from the corps' first six months, including how to leverage the program post-pandemic.
By Cailin Crowe • April 09, 2021 -
Advocates call for $650M in federal funds to curb food waste in states, cities
Atlanta, Baltimore, Philadelphia and Madison, WI are among the groups calling for annual investments through at least 2030 for food waste diversion infrastructure and other strategies.
By Maria Rachal • April 08, 2021 -
Retrieved from Twitter.
How the American Jobs Plan aims to shape 4 pillars of city infrastructure
The administration's package looks to inject billions of dollars into the country's digital infrastructure, water, transportation and housing needs, with emphasis on racial equity and climate resilience.
By Smart Cities Dive Team • April 01, 2021 -
Lawrence, Jason. (2017). "New Flyer DE60LFR" [Photograph]. Retrieved from Flickr.
Boston pilots free public transit in bid for equitable COVID recovery
The city is one of many turning to zero-fare programs, which could entice riders back onto public transit following the pandemic. But concerns over lost fare revenue may remain a deterrent.
By Cailin Crowe • March 31, 2021 -
Few mayors expect to keep COVID-inspired changes to public spaces, survey finds
The Menino Survey of Mayors found that although leaders predict residents will spend more time outside, only 6% of mayors plan to keep recent changes to those spaces like closed roads and new bike lanes.
By Chris Teale • March 31, 2021 -
The image by hendricks is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
Cities face new roadblock in quest to decarbonize buildings
The International Code Council removed the rights of local governments to vote on energy-efficient building codes, a move with major implications for cities as they seek to dramatically reduce emissions.
By Cailin Crowe • March 24, 2021 -
Permission granted by Gehl
Community-led design of public spaces could have 'ripple effect' in COVID recovery: report
Analysis of public spaces in Detroit; Philadelphia; San Jose, CA; and Akron, OH by the Knight Foundation and design firm Gehl found successful and resilient programming could have long-term effects after the pandemic.
By Chris Teale • March 24, 2021 -
Cities turn to resilience corps as pandemic recovery tactic
San Jose, CA is the latest major city to embrace the initiative, which provides jobs and skills training to residents hardest-hit by the pandemic.
By Chris Teale • March 22, 2021 -
Permission granted by Rendering by West 8 + DTAH
Waterfront Toronto to design 'complete community' after Sidewalk Labs split
The group launched a competition to find a new development partner, seeking a plan that includes affordable housing and support for aging in place.
By Cailin Crowe • March 17, 2021 -
San Antonio power provider sues ERCOT, citing 'unlawful' pricing
Mayor Ron Nirenburg gave the city's full support for the suit against the Texas grid operator, saying "state regulators are presiding over one of the largest illegal transfers of wealth" in state history.
By Catherine Morehouse • March 16, 2021 -
Retrieved from Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
DOE to spend billions on electric vehicle R&D in jobs fight with China
President Biden's administration is tackling transportation electrification in part to prevent China from cornering a $23 trillion market in carbon-reducing tech, according to Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm.
By Robert Walton • March 11, 2021 -
House Democrats clear pathway to 100% clean energy by 2035
The bill would require economy-wide net-zero emissions by 2050, targeting transportation electrification, environmental justice and building efficiency.
By Catherine Morehouse • March 03, 2021 -
Getty Images
USPS to continue purchasing gas vehicles, despite Biden all-electric pledge
The postal service says the procurement allows for flexibility, and hinted at the ability to "retrofit" some vehicles. But EV advocates say "this will lock USPS into an outdated technology for many years."
By Robert Walton • Feb. 25, 2021 -
McDonald, Chad. (2016). "Up Up and away" [Photograph]. Retrieved from Flickr.
Resilient Cities Catalyst to tackle California's compounding crises
The group, born out of the 100 Resilient Cities initiative, launched the public-philanthropic California Resilience Partnership to address challenges stemming from racial injustice, climate change and the pandemic.
By Cailin Crowe • Feb. 24, 2021 -
Residents' climate anecdotes to inform San Diego resilience plan
Following hazard vulnerability assessments, the city is nearing a resilience draft plan focused on wildfires, sea level rise, extreme heat and flooding.
By Maria Rachal • Feb. 19, 2021 -
Danielle Ternes/Smart Cities Dive
Deep DivePower sector experts fight misinformation around Texas outages
Operators will often prepare for peak loads based on historical data, but those forecasts can be less predictable under a changing climate, one expert said.
By Catherine Morehouse • Feb. 18, 2021 -
sestovic/E+/Getty via Getty Images
Security flaws enabled Tampa-area water utility hack
Authorities found poor security hygiene — weak passwords and an outdated operating system — played a role in the hack.
By Samantha Schwartz • UPDATED: Feb. 12, 2021 at 10:05 a.m. -
Natacha Kiler
US could derail decarbonization without equitable policies: report
Decarbonization is technically and financially feasible, but government must ensure the coming economic transition is just and fair to all, experts said.
By Emma Penrod • Feb. 04, 2021 -
gapersblock. (2011). "*Zoup*" [Photograph]. Retrieved from Flickr.
Q&ANew SUMC CEO ponders mobility sector's 'moment of inflection'
Benjamin de la Peña, who recently became CEO of the Shared-Use Mobility Center, discussed pandemic-fueled mobility opportunities and his unfinished business as the Seattle DOT's former innovation chief.
By Cailin Crowe • Jan. 28, 2021
