Climate & Resilience
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What NEPA rollbacks mean for local projects
The Trump administration’s elimination of environmental regulations based on the 1970 law could mean faster permitting but reduce cities’ recourse for weighing in on federally funded projects in their communities, experts say.
By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Aug. 11, 2025 -
DutcherAerials via Getty Images
California cities, Nevada State University join forces on climate resilience
Seven public agencies are partnering with Urban Land Institute to develop strategies for extreme heat, disaster preparedness and resilient housing.
By Lori Tobias • Aug. 11, 2025 -
Explore the Trendline➔
jamesteohart via Getty Images
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 -
Adam Gray via Getty Images
AI could cut disaster infrastructure losses by 15%, new research finds
Artificial intelligence applications like predictive maintenance and digital twins can help keep the power on and the roads open during natural disasters — and save $70 billion in infrastructure losses by 2050, according to a Deloitte Global report.
By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Aug. 6, 2025 -
Permission granted by Wenk Associates
Denver development recruits its river for urban flood control
The River Mile project is treating the South Platte River as natural infrastructure, delivering flood protection, recreation and economic opportunity on land once considered undevelopable.
By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Aug. 4, 2025 -
Michael Ciaglo via Getty Images
Xcel Energy ‘prepared to go to trial’ to fight Colorado fire liability
The company contends that it did not start the late 2021 Colorado blaze, which caused an estimated $2 billion in damages.
By Emma Penrod • Aug. 4, 2025 -
BackyardProduction via Getty Images
EPA’s move to gut key climate regulation raises stakes for city leaders
A repeal of the endangerment finding would make local climate policy a new battleground in continuing tensions between the Trump administration and cities, a legal scholar suggests.
By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • July 30, 2025 -
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Municipal codes, financial incentives are driving the retrofitting boom, new research finds
Nearly half of building executives surveyed believe retrofits meet urban space needs better than new construction, but many cities lack the policy muscle to make them scalable.
By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • July 29, 2025 -
Courtesy of Planet
Colorado regulators press forward with landfill rule despite industry pushback
The proposal, which would be among the strictest in the nation, could be approved as soon as August.
By Jacob Wallace • July 24, 2025 -
Permission granted by Siemens Mobility
NY transit authority orders nation’s first battery-electric passenger locomotive
Siemens Mobility will supply locomotives that can run on batteries or overhead wire, up to 125 mph and with a range of up to 100 miles on battery power alone.
By Dan Zukowski • Updated Aug. 1, 2025 -
Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
OpinionCalifornia’s clean mobility push is leaving low-income residents behind
Rebates for electric bikes in California have been successful but can leave out people who most need an alternative to private vehicles and public transit.
By Marta Anadón Rosinach • July 22, 2025 -
Joe Raedle via Getty Images
3 keys to building climate resilience from the ground up
Cross-department alignment, community engagement and data are essential for preparing communities to weather climate crises, experts say.
By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • July 22, 2025 -
Mindful Media via Getty Images
Bill seeks to fill federal void on heat protection for public workers
Proposed legislation backed by AFSCME and other major unions could raise the bar for how cities protect municipal workers from rising temperatures.
By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • July 21, 2025 -
Spencer Platt via Getty Images
Deep DiveHow to protect employees from heat and other climate extremes
Clear protocols for identifying heat illness, safety training, paid breaks and access to water and shade are among the steps cities can take to protect workers as temperatures rise.
By Ryan Golden • July 21, 2025 -
Eric Vryn via Getty Images
Local officials hold the key to life-saving flood and weather warnings
Accurate weather warnings are useless if they don’t reach residents in time. Take these steps to avoid mistakes that may have contributed to the tragedy in Texas.
By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Updated July 17, 2025 -
Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
$10B lawsuit targets LA over ‘epic failures’ in Palisades Fire
Class action and amended complaints accuse city and state agencies of negligence, mismanagement and cover-up in the January fire.
By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • July 16, 2025 -
Allison Joyce via Getty Images
Most states couldn’t afford disaster recovery without FEMA: report
Cities may need to establish their own recovery and resilience funds because only a handful of states are prepared to absorb proposed FEMA cuts, the Urban Institute found.
By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • July 15, 2025 -
DustyPixel/iStock via Getty Images
California issues key updates on climate-risk disclosure laws
The state’s laws on emissions and financial risk reporting signal a shift in regulatory expectations that could serve as a blueprint for other states weighing similar legislation.
By Zoya Mirza • July 15, 2025 -
Brandon Bell via Getty Images
5 steps cities can take to prevent a flood tragedy like Kerr County’s
Cities and counties can strengthen their defenses — even on tight budgets — with smarter maps, stronger codes and regional coordination, a flood expert says.
By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Updated July 16, 2025 -
Greggory DiSalvo via Getty Images
Cities sue Trump administration over termination of climate justice grants
Local governments say the EPA’s blanket cancellation of equity-related funding jeopardizes climate resilience efforts, air quality monitoring, flood mitigation and tree planting.
By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • July 11, 2025 -
Danielle Ternes/Smart Cities Dive
Sponsored by TomTom[Podcast] Key trends in urban mobility transformation
In this podcast series, explore trending topics related to the larger theme of urban mobility transformation challenges and opportunities.
By Smart Cities Dive's studioID • Updated July 10, 2025 -
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California walks back environmental law for housing, high-speed rail
The changes to the California Environmental Quality Act could greatly speed up the issuance of building permits.
By Matthew Thibault • July 8, 2025 -
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Cities can decarbonize buildings while cutting costs, new road map says
The guide from Climate Mayors and Veolia aims to help cities tackle one of their biggest greenhouse gas emissions challenges, even as federal support for energy efficiency and decarbonization shrinks.
By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • July 7, 2025 -
Retrieved from New York State Energy Research & Development Authority on June 26, 2025
New York offering up to $750K for facility decarbonization projects
The Large-Scale Thermal program is accepting applications through July 31 for heating, cooling and hot water systems in single buildings of at least 100,000 square feet or campuses of 250,000 square feet and up.
By Brian Martucci • June 30, 2025 -
Kayla Bartkowski via Getty Images
As FEMA shrinks, cities face rising burdens — and risks
The backbone of emergency management is under threat, former federal officials say. Small towns may be the first to feel the effects.
By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Updated June 24, 2025 -
baranozdemir via Getty Images
US, global cities tout emissions reductions
Local U.S. officials say they’re driving emissions goals from the ground up since the Trump administration’s withdrawal from key international climate events and agreements.
By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • June 23, 2025
