Climate & Resilience: Page 2
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16 cities and counties fast-track sustainability through national initiative
The U.S. Green Building Council LEED for Cities program helps local leaders embed climate resilience and green infrastructure into city planning.
By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • May 14, 2025 -
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Policy, tax uncertainty holding back US clean energy development
Clean energy policy experts gathered at DC Climate Week said the current uncertainty around the U.S. tax and tariff environment is inhibiting the market.
By Lamar Johnson • May 12, 2025 -
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 -
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NOAA stops tracking cost of extreme weather and climate disasters
The data can't be replicated by city and state governments, scientists say.
By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • May 9, 2025 -
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Trump administration plans to end popular Energy Star program
The program has helped consumers save more than $500 billion in energy costs and 5 trillion kWh since it launched in 1992 under President George H.W. Bush.
By Robert Walton • May 8, 2025 -
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Urban tree-planting programs adapt to federal funding retraction
The Trump administration rescinded $75 million in federal grants for tree maintenance and planting in underserved neighborhoods. Cities and nonprofits are pivoting to state funding, collaboration and rule changes.
By Leslie Nemo • May 7, 2025 -
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Trump budget proposal slashes climate funding
Renewable energy, environmental justice and Superfund cleanup are among programs that would be eliminated.
By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Updated May 5, 2025 -
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3 cities join lawsuit challenging mass layoffs of federal workers
Unions, nonprofits and local governments allege the staff reductions threaten vital services and public safety.
By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • May 2, 2025 -
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Cities lose “critical guidance” from climate report: former NOAA official
The National Climate Assessment provides region-specific projections for infrastructure planning, budgeting and emergency preparedness.
By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • April 30, 2025 -
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New policy resource helps cities finance and maintain tree canopies
Trees can mitigate the effects of urban heat islands, lower energy demand and reduce heat-related illnesses, the Smart Surfaces Coalition report states.
By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • April 28, 2025 -
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Nearly half of US residents breathe unhealthy air: report
American Lung Association officials call for city leaders to speak up for federal support of air quality research amid record pollution levels.
By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • April 23, 2025 -
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Atlanta to launch Climate Resilience Action Plan
The city plans to move forward even as federal support is uncertain and the plan’s focus on energy burden equity has put the program in the Trump administration’s crosshairs.
By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • April 21, 2025 -
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EPA confirms recycling, waste infrastructure grants on track for disbursement
EPA will move forward with awarding the second round of solid waste and recycling grants. The news comes after uncertainty over the status of numerous federal funding opportunities for the waste and recycling sectors.
By Megan Quinn • April 15, 2025 -
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Prepare now to protect urban forests from storms
As FEMA funding fades and disasters intensify, risk assessments, standing contracts and debris-management plans are crucial, one conservation director says.
By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • April 14, 2025 -
Jacob Wallace/Smart Cities Dive
New York City pauses curbside organics enforcement
The city issued tens of thousands of warnings before enforcement began on April 1, but Mayor Eric Adams has since paused that plan through the end of the year for most building owners.
By Jacob Wallace • Updated April 21, 2025 -
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Denver adds flexibility to building performance guidelines
Following public input, including some backlash from building owners, the new rules will push back compliance deadlines, remove electrification report requirements and reduce penalty rates, the city said.
By Joe Burns • April 9, 2025 -
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America’s aging water infrastructure faces new threats
The U.S. urgently needs to increase funding to shore up facilities, experts say, as climate change and emerging contaminants like PFAS pose growing threats.
By Julie Strupp • April 1, 2025 -
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Preparing manufactured homes for extreme weather: 5 barriers
Zoning, financing and other regulations can leave this more affordable form of housing vulnerable. Some communities are addressing the risk.
By Leslie Nemo • April 1, 2025 -
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New Mexico occupational safety bureau advances heat safety rule
If passed, the state would be the sixth to implement its own heat-related guidance, after a federal standard appears to have lost steam.
By Zachary Phillips • March 31, 2025 -
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FEMA disaster preparedness role could decrease following Trump executive order
The administration plans to publish a national resilience strategy with further details within 90 days, it said.
By Ryan Kushner • March 28, 2025 -
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US infrastructure gets a C, its highest grade ever, in ASCE report card
Infrastructure needs long-term, continuous investment to maintain and continue to improve, however, the civil engineering group said.
By Michelle M. Havich • March 26, 2025 -
Dan Zukowski/Smart Cities Dive
Nearly 3,000 city leaders gathered in Washington last week. Here’s what they had to say.
Mayors, council members and nonprofit leaders heard from Vice President JD Vance, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin and others at the National League of Cities meeting.
By Dan Zukowski • March 21, 2025 -
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Opinion3 concerns about California’s neighborhood decarbonization pilot program
Decarbonization is essential to achieve carbon neutrality, but tenants and low-income homeowners might pay a steep price due to factors they can’t control.
By Teresa Linares • March 20, 2025 -
Dan Zukowski/Smart Cities Dive
City leaders name housing, public safety and infrastructure as top issues
The National League of Cities Congressional City Conference brought together 3,000 city leaders to discuss these issues, with appearances from EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin and Vice President JD Vance.
By Dan Zukowski • March 18, 2025 -
Retrieved from U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
EPA to end environmental justice programs, monitoring tools
As part of the Trump administration’s end to environmental justice programs, it has cut off access to EJScreen, a monitoring tool used to track environmental justice metrics.
By Megan Quinn • March 14, 2025 -
Andrew Harnik via Getty Images
EPA revisiting dozens of climate, environment rules in ‘day of deregulation’
The agency said it would roll back a range of rules and programs, including some that are foundational to its efforts to address climate change. A new WOTUS definition is expected, as well as rollbacks to an emissions reporting program.
By Jacob Wallace • March 13, 2025
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