Challenge to Berkeley gas regulation dismissed, a win for cities in carbon emissions fight

A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit last week that challenged the city's restrictions on natural gas in new low-rise residential buildings, a major boost for local governments looking to follow suit.

By Chris Teale • July 16, 2021

Chicago creates new waste strategy to tackle low recycling rate

Unlike other major cities like New York and Los Angeles, Chicago has not set a zero waste target. The city's chief sustainability officer says the focus now is more so on "interim steps," from reducing food waste to recycling textiles.

By Maria Rachal • July 16, 2021

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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

Too few companies advocate for climate-friendly policies despite lofty goals: report

Only around 40% of the country's top 100 firms lobby for green legislation, according to sustainability nonprofit Ceres. We have "run out of time to waste," a spokesperson said.

By Chris Teale • July 13, 2021

Cities along Great Lakes will need $2B to address coastal damage: survey

Despite 95% of city officials reporting they’re highly or moderately concerned about coastal damage, just 11% say they have a “high level of capacity” to respond, a Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative survey finds.

By Jason Plautz • July 13, 2021

Local leaders from 12 cities to attend vacant property leadership institute

Amid expectations the number of vacant proprieties will rise due to the pandemic, local leaders from across four states will attend an intensive training to learn how to best transform and maintain them.

By Katie Pyzyk • July 12, 2021

WRI names Rosario, Argentina, as 'Prize for Cities' winner

The city's sustainable food initiative, a program that addresses inequalities and the effects of climate change by providing low-income residents with access to underused land to grow food, led to its win.

By Chris Teale • June 29, 2021

Most major US cities have become more segregated in recent decades: report

University of California at Berkeley researchers find that 80% of metro regions have become more segregated from 1990 to 2019. Some leaders are looking to reparations to address segregation and other effects of systemic racism.

By Cailin Crowe • June 28, 2021

San Diego, Houston detail paths for cities to purchase renewable energy

Meeting clean energy goals can require different tools like community choice aggregation and renewable energy certificates, EPA and city officials say. 

By Jason Plautz • June 22, 2021

New bill would tax polluters, redirect funds to impacted communities

The Save Our Future Act would invest millions in emissions reduction programs and help areas reliant on fossil fuels transition away from them through direct payments, career training, business development and other programs.

By Chris Teale • June 18, 2021

Pittsburgh summer program aims to retain young professionals

Competition for talent has become even more pronounced during the pandemic as remote work proliferated, giving employees greater flexibility in where they live.

By Katie Pyzyk • June 16, 2021

Philadelphia's eviction diversion program is a 'lifeline' for tenants

The "nation's largest poor city" has adopted one of the most aggressive eviction diversion efforts in the U.S., in an effort one city council member said she hopes will remain post-pandemic.

By Amanda Loudin • June 16, 2021

Low-carbon concrete bill advances in New York

The bill takes aim at the emissions-heavy built environment by developing state guidelines for using greener concrete products and climate performance standards for state construction projects.

By Jason Plautz • June 14, 2021

Arbor Day Foundation and Intrinsyx Environmental offer natural solution to clean up industrial contamination in cities and towns

Editor's note: This article was originally published in American City & County, which has merged with Smart Cities Dive to bring you expanded coverage of city innovation and local government. For the latest in smart city news, explore Smart Cities Dive or sign up for our newsletter.The Arbor ...

By Michelle Havich • June 14, 2021

Dallas adopts its first urban forest master plan

The plan follows an earlier heat island management study that found the nation's ninth-most-populous city was heating up more rapidly than every other city in the U.S. outside of Phoenix.

By Maria Rachal • June 11, 2021

EPA, USDA select 13 sites to help build community-led food systems

The Local Foods, Local Places program aims to rejuvenate economically blighted areas, with revitalization plans including the creation of community gardens and converting a transit bus into a mobile farmers market. 

By Katie Pyzyk • June 8, 2021

Baltimore contractor pilots low-carbon concrete product

The new concrete formulation is designed to cut the material's embodied carbon by 40% compared to ordinary Portland cement-based concrete, the maker says.

By Jeffrey Steele • June 4, 2021

Tampa, Florida, creates resilience plan to prepare for next crisis

The road map, which officials say is the first to be released during or after the coronavirus pandemic, calls for more affordable housing and broadband access in addition to climate-ready infrastructure.

By Chris Teale • June 3, 2021

Lower-income ZIP code residents feel worse effects of extreme heat, ozone pollution: study

Policymakers should prioritize resources in poorer neighborhoods and develop better warning systems, according to a study analyzing hospitalizations across ZIP codes in California.

By Jason Plautz • May 28, 2021

Republicans include $4B for EVs in 2nd counteroffer to Biden infrastructure plan

The Republicans' proposal would spend $928 billion on infrastructure over the next eight years, a $360 billion increase over their previous proposal. But EV advocates say the plan still falls short. 

By Catherine Morehouse • May 28, 2021

Washington, DC, reclaims top spot as best city for parks

The Trust for Public Land's rankings measured park equity access for the first time in the index's 10-year history, noting that while many cities have made strides, plenty of work still lies ahead.  

By Chris Teale • May 27, 2021

With more extreme weather on horizon, FEMA resilience program's dollars to double

The Biden administration's $1 billion injection for the nascent Pre-Disaster Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities program comes as national leaders aim to "categorically shift" disaster spending from reactive to proactive.

By Maria Rachal • May 26, 2021

Averting economic devastation from New York's billion-dollar consumer energy debt

Federal funds will eliminate a lot of New Yorkers' energy and water utility debt, but utility shareholders must share the burden of what remains, the authors write.

By Kevin Parker and Richard Berkley • May 26, 2021

Biden orders Yellen to outline climate risks to financial stability

The action also calls for an effort within about four months to identify and disclose the extent of exposure government programs and assets have to climate risks.

By Dan Ennis • May 25, 2021

Stimulus funds poised to magnify impact of Economic Development Administration’s new equity focus

The EDA has for the first time prioritized equity in its strategy as it looks to invest in underserved communities and prepare them for the jobs of the future.

By Chris Teale • May 24, 2021

Biden decarbonization focus shifts to buildings, aiming to triple efficiency

The White House announced workforce development funding, new performance standards and expanded partnerships in the private sector to address carbon emissions from the nation's building stock.

By Robert Walton • May 20, 2021