Climate & Resilience


  • A Toyota i-Road minimobility concept vehicle on display in Washington, D.C.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Michael Loccisano/Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

    Is your city minimobility-ready?

    Cities must transition from favoring full-sized cars and SUVs to prioritizing slower, smaller passenger vehicles that can meet more travelers’ needs in less space, transportation experts say.

    By Austyn Gaffney • March 20, 2023
  • portrait of Climate Mayors Executive Director Kate Wright outdoors
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Climate Mayors
    Q&A

    On climate change, this group of mayors thinks globally and acts locally

    Climate Mayors Executive Director Kate Wright discusses how the organization is helping mayors lead on climate policy and implement provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act and 2021 infrastructure law.

    By March 17, 2023
  • An aerial view of the Miami skyline. Explore the Trendline
    Image attribution tooltip
    felixmizioznikov/iStock/Getty Images Plus via Getty Images
    Trendline

    Smart Cities Dive 2023 Outlook

    In the year ahead, city leaders will continue to face economic headwinds while tackling the housing shortage, rethinking land use, dealing with changes in travel behavior and implementing federal spending programs to electrify and decarbonize cars, buses and buildings.

    By Smart Cities Dive staff
  • A city skyline beneath a cloudy, orange sky.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Kruck20 via Getty Images

    Skanska predicts construction costs will rise above inflation in many US cities

    The new report examined construction costs in 21 U.S. markets, including Dallas; New York City; Orlando, Florida; Phoenix; San Francisco; and Seattle.

    By Zachary Phillips • March 14, 2023
  • President Biden delivers remarks on 2024 budget plan In Philadelphia.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Chip Somodevilla via Getty Images

    Biden proposed budget boosts funding for clean energy, permitting, efficiency programs

    The budget released Thursday includes $11.9 billion for the Department of Energy climate and clean energy research, development, demonstration and deployment, a 20% hike over the FY 23 enacted amount.

    By Ethan Howland • March 10, 2023
  • A view of Denver, Colorado.
    Image attribution tooltip
    milehightraveler via Getty Images

    Colorado’s lead composter imposes stricter accepted materials rules to curb contamination

    A1 Organics says contamination rates are growing as curbside composting programs expand. Even items labeled "compostable" no longer will be accepted.

    By Katie Pyzyk • March 7, 2023
  • A view of downtown Austin, Texas.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Joe Raedle/Staff/Getty Images News via Getty Images

    US DOT and Austin, Texas, launch first-of-its-kind $22 billion transportation partnership

    It’s the first time the Transportation Department has entered an emerging projects agreement with a city to fast-track networks of related projects rather than using a piecemeal approach.

    By March 7, 2023
  • A woman ride an e-scooter in a protected bike lane.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Extreme Media/iStock/Getty Images Plus via Getty Images

    New Mexico considering bill to mandate, fund protected bike lanes in some roadway improvement projects

    The requirement would apply to roadway improvement projects in municipalities with 10,000 or more residents.

    By March 3, 2023
  • A sign on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency building in Washington, D.C.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Gromit702/iStock/Getty Images Plus via Getty Images

    $250M for curbing climate pollution, advancing environmental justice available from US EPA

    Each of the 67 most-populated U.S. metropolitan areas is eligible for $1 million in planning grants, which the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will follow with $4.6 billion to help cities and states implement their plans later this year.

    By March 1, 2023
  • Four people are in line to board a blue and gray Greyhound bus, with one person handing her luggage to the driver standing in front of the open luggage door of the bus.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Greyhound

    Intercity bus station closures create problems for riders

    The closure of many Greyhound bus stations “is putting a lot of pressure on state and local governments to help find fixes,” said a researcher at the Chaddick Institute for Metropolitan Development at DePaul University.

    By Feb. 27, 2023
  • Someone replacing a window in a building.
    Image attribution tooltip
    photovs/iStock/Getty Images Plus via Getty Images

    PACE programs are a popular strategy for local decarbonization financing: report

    Property-assessed clean energy programs are more common than taxes and other strategies as a source of dedicated climate funds for local governments, a Brookings Institution report found.

    By Feb. 27, 2023
  • New York City Sanitation Commissioner Jessica Tisch testifies before the Committee on Sanitation and Solid Waste Management on Feb. 22, 2022.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Retrieved from New York City Council.

    First NYC commercial waste zone implementation could begin in 2024, DSNY says

    Mayor Eric Adams’ administration has faced criticism over how long it has taken the New York City Department of Sanitation to advance the waste zones program.

    By Maria Rachal • Feb. 24, 2023
  • An image of Subway Oasis electric vehicle charging parks.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Subway

    Subway sandwich chain to install EV charging stations at select stores

    The smaller stations will have fast EV chargers that provide a 120-mile charge within 17 minutes for about $20.

    By Julie Littman • Feb. 23, 2023
  • Skyscrapers on either side of a river with a yellow tourboat gliding on it.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Mlenny via Getty Images

    Chicago adopts citywide equity and resiliency plan

    The We Will Chicago plan aims to address eight issue areas, including housing and economic development, in its 40 goals and 150 objectives. 

    By Feb. 21, 2023
  • Close-up of a vehicle tailpipe spewing out gray emissions.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Joe Raedle via Getty Images

    EPA report: US transportation CO2 emissions up 14% from 2020 to 2021

    A draft U.S. Environmental Protection Agency report cites pickup trucks, SUVs and other light-duty trucks as the largest contributor to emissions from fossil fuels in 2021.

    By Feb. 16, 2023
  • A Tesla car recharges its battery at the Petaluma Supercharger on March 09, 2022 in Petaluma, California.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Justin Sullivan / Staff via Getty Images

    Tesla to make some of its EV chargers public as White House announces rules for national charging network

    The rules will require federally funded chargers to be built in the United States, beginning with final assembly and some manufacturing processes.

    By Robert Walton • Feb. 15, 2023
  • Digital data flow on road with motion blur to create vision of fast speed transfer.
    Image attribution tooltip
    NanoStockk/iStock/Getty Images Plus via Getty Images

    Smart city conferences to attend in 2023

    From electric vehicles and micromobility to housing and climate resiliency, here are some notable events for smart city leaders this year.

    By Feb. 13, 2023
  • Modified collection vehicle for Boston's food scrap program
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Save That Stuff/Garbage to Gardens

    Boston touts initial success of composting program as it plans expansion to 20K households

    After collecting over 500 tons so far, the city has about 98% participation among households that started last summer.

    By Cole Rosengren • Feb. 9, 2023
  • Aerial view of Manhattan, New York, construction site.
    Image attribution tooltip
    AerialPerspective Works/E+ via Getty Images

    Insulating existing buildings with low-carbon and carbon-storing materials can reduce emissions: report

    “Deep energy retrofits” that use certain insulation systems can turn existing buildings into storehouses of carbon instead of emitters of greenhouse gases, according to an RMI report.

    By Feb. 9, 2023
  • The east side of the US Capitol in the early morning. Senate Chamber in the foreground.
    Image attribution tooltip
    drnadig via Getty Images

    House bill aims to create lending institution for infrastructure projects

    The Federal Infrastructure Bank would work with state and local partners on private infrastructure investments via loans and loan guarantees, helping finance work such as transportation projects and broadband connectivity.

    By Jennifer Goodman • Feb. 8, 2023
  • The Los Angeles skyline at night under a deep orange sky.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Dan Zukowski

    EVs reduce asthma, air pollution: California study

    Researchers at the University of Southern California’s medical school drilled down to ZIP code-level data, revealing fewer electric vehicles and related health benefits in lower-income communities.

    By Feb. 6, 2023
  • A participant in Denver's e-bike rebate program.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Denver Office of Climate Action, Sustainability and Resiliency

    What Denver’s climate office learned from early e-bike rebate enthusiasm

    Mike Salisbury, transportation energy lead in the Office of Climate Action, Sustainability, and Resiliency, explains what inspired the program and how the local government adapted to a huge public response.

    By Maria Rachal • Feb. 3, 2023
  • A city skyline during the day with several office buildings behind trees.
    Image attribution tooltip
    hallojulie via Getty Images

    More urban trees could prevent heat-related deaths: study

    As extreme heat and its negative health effects become more widespread, researchers draw a link between increasing tree cover and minimizing mortality.

    By Maria Rachal • Feb. 2, 2023
  • The left front of a green bus on a street is marked as "Electric Bus."
    Image attribution tooltip
    Scharfsinn86 via Getty Images

    Transit agencies’ zero-emission bus adoption increased in 2022

    California, New York, Florida, Texas and Massachusetts together added more than 1,500 zero-emission transit buses to their fleets.

    By Feb. 2, 2023
  • Matching Day and Night New York Skyline at sunrise, midday, night and on a rainy day.
    Image attribution tooltip
    ferrantraite via Getty Images

    2023 Smart Cities Outlook

    In the year ahead, city leaders will face economic headwinds while tackling the housing shortage and changes in travel behavior and decarbonizing transportation and buildings.

    By Feb. 1, 2023
  • ChargePoint, Stem strike EV charging and battery storage deal for highway corridor fast-charging networks

    Combining charging, battery storage and AI-driven energy management will save money for EV site operators, the companies say.

    By Stephen Singer • Feb. 1, 2023