Resilience: Page 2

Consumers want curbside, outdoor dining to stay in 2021: survey

Demand for restaurants is high, with 83% of adults saying they are not eating on the premises at restaurants as often as they would like.

By Alicia Kelso • Dec. 22, 2020

California tops ACEEE energy efficiency scorecard

This is the first report since 2010 that Massachusetts has not held the No. 1 spot, falling to second as California "continued to set the pace in energy savings."

By Kristin Musulin • Dec. 17, 2020

Explore the Trendline➔

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

11 experts predict what will shape smart cities in 2021

From electrification to digital twins and the "15-minute city," respondents shared a wide variety of trends to watch in the new year.

By Kristin Musulin , Cailin Crowe , Chris Teale • Dec. 15, 2020

Cities play 'key role' in green COVID-19 recovery: report

The Rocky Mountain Institute and Bloomberg Philanthropies found local infrastructure projects and strong federal partners are significant in building a more resilient future.

By Chris Teale • Dec. 09, 2020

Dive Awards

Leader of the Year: Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, Atlanta

The mayor has guided the city through the onset of a devastating pandemic and civic unrest, while also fielding a lawsuit from the state governor and catching the attention of President-elect Joe Biden's administration.  

By Cailin Crowe • Dec. 09, 2020

Dive Awards

The Smart Cities Dive Awards for 2020

In a year where cities and local officials had to weather unprecedented crises, the following awardees stood out for their bold leadership.

By Smart Cities Dive Team • Dec. 09, 2020

Migration to wildfire-prone areas continues despite risk: study

Wildfires are expected to burn 9.3 million acres of the U.S. annually by 2050 as many vulnerable areas are also seeing population growth.

By Cailin Crowe • Nov. 23, 2020

Opinion

Wastewater surveillance may be key to widespread COVID-19 detection

COVID-19 presents a rare opportunity for researchers to refine and implement wastewater-based epidemiology testing to fight the pandemic and manage future infections.

By Leanne Huysentruyt • Nov. 20, 2020

EPA sets 2030 national recycling goal, stakeholders call for more federal action

Administrator Andrew Wheeler announced a 50% recycling rate target for 2030, while the latest annual data showed a decline to 32.1% and multiple financial pressures continue for the sector.

By Cole Rosengren • Nov. 19, 2020

25 US cities land on CDP 2020 'A List'

Despite the unprecedented obstacles of COVID-19, CDP identified 88 global cities that have continued to make progress on climate action, with 34% of those cities new to the list this year.

By Kristin Musulin • Nov. 16, 2020

Deep Dive

Will ghost kitchens define the restaurant industry's future?

While investor interest booms and sales have the potential to outpace traditional models, questions linger about how much this emerging market could disrupt business in the long term. 

By Emma Liem Beckett • Nov. 10, 2020

Opinion

A parametric approach to pandemic resilience

We do not have years of precedents to formulate a response to COVID-19. Therefore, pandemic planning processes must be agile and flexible to incorporate continuous uncertainty and change.

By Jason King and Evangelos Pantazis • Nov. 06, 2020

Mass timber reaches for new heights to unlock zero-carbon cities

Design firms are tapping mass timber to illustrate how eco-friendly material can be used to support a sustainable recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. 

By Cailin Crowe • Nov. 04, 2020

REEF Technology raises $700M to support the 15-minute city

The mobility, logistics and neighborhood hub operator said the funding will help promote its efforts to connect people to goods and services without a car.

By Chris Teale • Nov. 04, 2020

How the 2020 election could impact the waste and recycling industry

The outcome could affect major issues like climate change, PFAS, taxes, M&A, recycling policies and more. 

By E.A. Crunden • Nov. 02, 2020

Global cities join forces to support the 'creative economy'

Eighteen cities will take part in the latest round of the World Cities Culture Forum's Leadership Exchange Program, supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies and Google Arts & Culture.

By Kristin Musulin • Oct. 30, 2020

The 10 cities in the most 'financial distress': report

Las Vegas, Chicago and Houston are home to the residents experiencing the heaviest financial burdens, according to a recent WalletHub study.

By Cailin Crowe • Oct. 28, 2020

10 statewide ballot measures to watch: results

Of the 10 ballot initiatives identified last week as "measures to watch," only one — a rent control initiative in California — failed at the polls.

By Kristin Musulin , Chris Teale , Cailin Crowe • UPDATED: Nov. 4, 2020 at 4:47 p.m.

Deep Dive

Ballot billions: Behind the efforts to fund and finance climate action

In a year that virtually depleted municipal budgets, ballot-derived tax and funding measures can be crucial to support city-level climate action. Outside of these measures, how else can cities secure cash?

By Kristin Musulin , Chris Teale , Cailin Crowe • Oct. 27, 2020

Cities' GHG emissions reduction efforts, by the numbers

A new Brookings report assessed the nation's many climate action plans to check if cities are meeting their emissions reduction commitments.

By Kristin Musulin • Oct. 23, 2020

Deep Dive

Death of the downtown: How cities can rebuild using 'tactical urbanism'

Whether or not cities "bounce back" from the COVID-19 pandemic will be determined by the choices they make to reimagine their downtown hubs, experts say.

By Amanda Loudin • Oct. 20, 2020

Opinion

Shutting off water in a pandemic? With the right tech, we shouldn't have to.

Thousands of Americans are at risk of water shut-offs due to financial constraints. Why is this, when technologies exist to make water more affordable for everyone?

By Christine E. Boyle • Oct. 19, 2020

Weaving earthquake risk into city resiliency plans

All U.S. communities, even those outside California, should consider earthquakes when planning and building infrastructure, said UCLA professor Scott Brandenberg.

By Adina Solomon • UPDATED: Dec. 2, 2020 at 12:20 p.m.

Hyundai, UNDP launch 'for Tomorrow' campaign to support sustainable cities

The inaugural platform will crowdsource innovations to help achieve UN Sustainable Development Goal 11, which focuses on building safe, resilient and sustainable cities. 

By Kristin Musulin • Oct. 09, 2020

Reloop looks to shake up circular economy policy progress

Elizabeth Balkan, formerly of the Natural Resources Defense Council and New York's Department of Sanitation, is leading the global platform's effort to support changes around packaging and recycling at all levels of government.

By Cole Rosengren • Oct. 08, 2020