Climate & Resilience
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Retrieved from Flickr.
Financing climate resilience: 3 ways cities are pivoting as federal funding dwindles
Local leaders are turning to layered programs, new financing tools and deeper community engagement to prepare for extreme weather.
By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Sept. 4, 2026 -
Megan Quinn/Smart Cities Dive
Food waste collection for multifamily housing expands in D.C.
The city's smart bin program will add another 20 collection locations. It’s part of an effort to increase multifamily composting efforts to meet D.C.'s zero waste goal to divert 80% of waste by 2040.
By Megan Quinn • Sept. 3, 2026 -
Explore the Trendline➔
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TrendlineTop 5 stories from Smart Cities Dive
From worsening climate change to a shifting transportation landscape and the housing affordability crisis, cities have their work cut out for them.
By Smart Cities Dive staff -
Michael M. Santiago via Getty Images
New York’s congestion pricing program has not affected air quality, study finds
The study addresses fears that the program would increase pollution if drivers tried to avoid the toll.
By Dan Zukowski • Sept. 2, 2026 -
Retrieved from Flickr.
Stormwater ‘sponges’ take root in Queens, New York, to curb flooding
As part of its larger green infrastructure program, the city is repurposing existing hardscape to capture millions of gallons of stormwater before it overwhelms sewers.
By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Aug. 31, 2026 -
Courtesy of Microsoft
Data Centers3 things cities should do before approving another data center
Aurora, Illinois, and Anchorage, Alaska, offer a road map for developing rules that balance economic opportunity with resident concerns over water, power, infrastructure and quality of life.
By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Aug. 27, 2026 -
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Gas appliance ban in Oak Park, Illinois, upheld by federal judge
The Chicago suburb can keep its ban because it doesn’t impose efficiency standards in conflict with federal law, the ruling found.
By Robert Freedman • Aug. 21, 2026 -
Permission granted by Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Data CentersSweeping new data center rules give local governments more leverage in Pennsylvania
"If the local community doesn’t approve a project, the state won’t approve it, either,” Gov. Josh Shapiro says.
By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Aug. 19, 2026 -
Mario Tama via Getty Images
Extreme indoor heat is a housing violation, Arizona warns landlords
The state’s most recent lawsuit against Tucson landlords reflects a nationwide movement to establish maximum indoor temperatures for rental housing.
By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Aug. 17, 2026 -
Michael Nagle via Getty Images
Steamy-hot subways are a problem in New York. They could become a clean-energy asset.
An $800,000 study will examine whether subway stations’ excess heat in the summer could warm municipal buildings in colder months.
By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Updated Aug. 12, 2026 -
Kevin Dietsch via Getty Images
$20B in federal climate grants unblocked by appeals court
A divided court rejected the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s attempt to reclaim Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund grants “based solely on a policy disagreement” with the Inflation Reduction Act.
By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Aug. 5, 2026 -
Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
30+ water utility cyberattacks expose a vulnerability across US cities
Attackers remotely accessed industrial controllers at water systems in seven states. The campaign suggests a common weakness utilities everywhere should address, experts warn.
By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Aug. 3, 2026 -
Permission granted by City of Boston
Boston’s $10B coastal resilience infrastructure plan wins access to billions in federal funding
The city qualifies for a 65% federal cost share following a U.S. Army Corps feasibility study, paving the way for more than 20 flood-protection projects expected to prevent $41 billion in damages.
By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • July 30, 2026 -
Chip Somodevilla via Getty Images
$7.6B in clean energy grant cancellations politically driven: court filing
The Energy Department's admission comes as the Trump administration proposes giving political appointees greater authority over grant awards.
By Robert Walton • July 28, 2026 -
William Morgan via Getty Images
Clean water funding map would get redrawn under Senate bill
The bipartisan overhaul would increase allocations for fast-growing states and reduce funds for others, the first change since 1987 to the EPA revolving fund distribution.
By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • July 27, 2026 -
Permission granted by HGA
Harley-Davidson replaced pavement with flood protection, creating a new Milwaukee park
A public-private partnership encouraged stormwater-focused design, which helped Davidson Park secure nearly $500,000 in grants and reduce downstream flooding.
By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • July 23, 2026 -
Alex Wong via Getty Images
Q&A3 steps on extreme heat every city should take
Better governance, stronger partnerships and a solid action plan are key to protecting residents from soaring temperatures, this heat resilience expert says.
By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • July 22, 2026 -
Retrieved from Climate Action Tucson.
5 extreme heat communication strategies from mayors in hot cities
Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava and Tucson Mayor Regina Romero share lessons from a new Climate Mayors toolkit to help local leaders keep residents safe during dangerous heat.
By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • July 16, 2026 -
Michael M. Santiago via Getty Images
New York freezes new large data center projects for one year
The first statewide moratorium will give officials time to evaluate impacts on electricity demand, water resources, infrastructure and surrounding communities, Gov. Kathy Hochul's office said.
By Zoya Mirza • Updated July 15, 2026 -
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Local projects would get billions under water infrastructure bill
The Water Resources Development Act, which would provide $30.5 billion for state revolving funds, passed unanimously through House and Senate committees.
By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Updated July 16, 2026 -
Permission granted by Vashon Jordan Jr./Chicago Office of the Mayor
With extreme rainfall overwhelming Chicago’s sewers, the city tries a new approach
A $12 million pilot for underground stormwater storage targets flooding in historically underserved neighborhoods.
By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • July 13, 2026 -
Spencer Platt/ via Getty Images
Extreme heat road map urges cities to rethink resilience
Treat extreme heat as a chronic risk, the Federation of American Scientists says. It offers solutions ranging from grid resilience to cooling access.
By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Updated July 8, 2026 -
Scott Olson via Getty Images
Resilience projects need funding. Green banks could help them reach new investors, one researcher says.
A hybrid institutional capital model could package small infrastructure resilience projects to make them attractive to institutional investors, a new research paper proposes.
By Vicky Uhland • July 7, 2026 -
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Aging, mobility and resilience projects get $8.3M from AARP
Fast-track projects ranging from safer streets and transit access to home-sharing and disaster preparedness were among those funded at a record level this year.
By Vicky Uhland • July 1, 2026 -
Permission granted by NYC Clean Soil Bank
OpinionCities are throwing away millions. Soil banking offers a better way.
Local governments can cut costs, reduce emissions and build resilience by treating excavated soil as a resource.
By Daniel Walsh • June 29, 2026 -
Jon Cherry via Getty Images
EPA’s tougher soot standard upheld in court
The D.C. Circuit rejected a challenge from states and industry groups, leaving the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for fine particulate matter in place as litigation over implementation continues.
By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • June 29, 2026
