Climate & Resilience
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New York unveils daily wildfire risk map
As dry weather fuels brush fires in the state, officials and researchers launched a data tool they say will get critical information to the public and firefighters more quickly.
By Ysabelle Kempe • Oct. 29, 2024 -
Phoenix cool pavement study shows technology tradeoffs
The reflective coating is more effective in certain urban areas than others, Arizona State University researchers said in a report prepared for the city.
By Ysabelle Kempe • Oct. 28, 2024 -
Trendline
Top 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 -
How US cities are investing in green infrastructure
The nation’s largest city is spending millions on porous pavement while communities in the Midwest are greening neglected alleys to mitigate flooding.
By Ysabelle Kempe • Oct. 24, 2024 -
California’s first carbon capture and storage facility gets local approval
The decision follows heated debate among community members about the project’s economic and health impacts.
By Ysabelle Kempe • Oct. 24, 2024 -
Food waste responsible for 14% of US methane emissions, report finds
The top solution for addressing food waste-related methane is centralized composting, says a report issued by ReFED with the support of the Global Methane Hub.
By Jacob Wallace • Oct. 21, 2024 -
What does it take to decarbonize a manufactured home community?
A community-scale retrofit project in Colorado offers a path toward lowering power bills for a population that faces high levels of energy insecurity.
By Leslie Nemo • Oct. 18, 2024 -
EV owners can store more energy from the grid with GM Energy’s new ‘PowerBank’
The stationary energy storage unit can provide power to a home during an outage or help offset higher electricity rates during peak times.
By Eric Walz • Oct. 17, 2024 -
13 green infrastructure projects get $60M across New York
The devastation wrought by Hurricanes Helene and Milton is a reminder of how urgent resilience investments are, Gov. Kathy Hochul said Wednesday.
By Ysabelle Kempe • Oct. 17, 2024 -
Urban agriculture gets $9M boost from USDA
Local groups in 10 cities are getting funds to connect urban food producers to federal services.
By Ysabelle Kempe • Oct. 15, 2024 -
How local zero-waste efforts can benefit from state resources
Massachusetts and Colorado are helping municipalities leverage funding and technical assistance that may not often be accessible to smaller communities, said speakers at the National Zero Waste Conference.
By Megan Quinn • Oct. 15, 2024 -
Uber spurs electric vehicle use with pop-ups in 4 cities, new features
An AI-powered virtual assistant for EV-curious drivers is among the ride-share giant’s expanded green product suite.
By Zoya Mirza • Oct. 14, 2024 -
How to address a key building decarbonization barrier: the ‘split incentive gap’
While landlords and developers foot the bill for efficiency upgrades, tenants benefit from lower energy costs. A Sustainable Markets Initiative road map outlines policies and other ways to address the mismatch.
By Nish Amarnath • Oct. 11, 2024 -
Green roofs on bus shelters are Boston’s latest climate resilience move
It's the nation’s largest single installation of green roofs on bus shelters, the city says. It hopes the infrastructure will ease stress on Boston’s aging drainage system.
By Ysabelle Kempe • Oct. 11, 2024 -
Gas utility faces climate deception lawsuit by Oregon county
It's the first time a U.S. community has sued a gas utility for allegedly deceiving the public about the climate impacts of fossil fuels, advocates say.
By Ysabelle Kempe • Oct. 10, 2024 -
Bill aims to help disaster-struck communities excluded from federal relief
The bipartisan proposal would give more communities access to federal dollars in the wake of increasing natural disasters.
By Ysabelle Kempe • Oct. 9, 2024 -
EPA requires lead pipes to be replaced nationwide within 10 years
The landmark rule imposes the strictest limits on lead in drinking water since federal standards were set 30 years ago.
By Julie Strupp • Oct. 8, 2024 -
Skills gap looms for energy efficiency jobs tied to net-zero emission goals: IEA
Dialogue among policymakers, employers and labor unions will play a critical role in training workers for skills relevant to the jobs being offered, a new International Energy Agency report says.
By Nish Amarnath • Oct. 4, 2024 -
What’s the value of a city’s nature? San Antonio pilots tool to find out.
Designed by a Stanford University-based group, the tool shows how land use changes could impact carbon sequestration, urban cooling and residents’ access to nature. More cities may eventually get access.
By Ysabelle Kempe • Oct. 3, 2024 -
How cities can handle election waste
Local governments are preparing to deal with high volumes of yard signs, mailers and campaign material as the fall election season ramps up. Programs in Pennsylvania, Texas, Florida and elsewhere encourage recycling and reuse.
By Adina Solomon • Oct. 2, 2024 -
FEMA’s push for resilience in building codes gets scrutiny in House hearing
Emergency managers touted the cost-effectiveness of more resilient buildings, but keeping up with the latest codes is a struggle for some local governments and homebuilders.
By Ysabelle Kempe • Oct. 2, 2024 -
1.6M customers still without power after Helene; some local grids must ‘be completely rebuilt’
Multiple utilities say they will need to completely rebuild, rather than repair, electric systems in the hardest-hit areas.
By Robert Walton • Oct. 1, 2024 -
2025’s top smart city conferences
Smart city technology, housing, climate action, road safety and more will take center stage at events already announced for next year.
By Ysabelle Kempe , Dan Zukowski • Oct. 1, 2024 -
Affordable multifamily housing owners would get decarbonization help in NYC proposal
Building owners purchasing “offset certificates” to help meet Local Law 97’s greenhouse gas emissions-reduction requirements would pay into the fund.
By Ysabelle Kempe • Sept. 30, 2024 -
Now is the time to ‘lean into’ decarbonizing transportation sector: Biden climate advisor
Reducing transportation emissions represents a “massive public health opportunity,” Ali Zaidi, a national climate policy advisor for the Biden administration, said at Climate Week NYC.
By Lamar Johnson • Sept. 30, 2024 -
Customer satisfaction with public EV charging is improving: JD Power
Electric vehicle owners are particularly satisfied with the speed of public fast chargers. But public charging infrastructure isn’t keeping up with the number of EVs in service, a J.D. Power executive said.
By Kalena Thomhave • Sept. 27, 2024