Climate & Resilience: Page 33


  • Equitable energy transition will require more than funding and job training, researchers say

    Utilities, governments must ensure clean energy jobs provide stable, middle-class earnings, according to a new guide from Inclusive Economics and the Bloomberg Philanthropies American Cities Climate Challenge.

    By Emma Penrod • April 19, 2021
  • homeless encampment milwaukee tent city
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    Miller, Charles Edward. (2019). "Homeless Encampment Milwaukee Wisconsin 8-30-19_2538" [Photograph]. Retrieved from Flickr.
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    Cities spend millions on homeless encampment response: report

    Local governments spend up to $8.5 million a year in response to encampments, according to the first federal encampment study, as a lack of affordable housing remains a key reason people are unhoused. 

    By Cailin Crowe • April 15, 2021
  • smart city, smart cities Explore the Trendline
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    jamesteohart via Getty Images
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    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
  • flooding urban city climate change
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    SC National Guard. (2018). "180925-Z-XH297-1108" [Photograph]. Retrieved from Flickr.
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    Businesses urge Biden admin to set ambitious federal climate target

    Apple, Lime and hundreds of other businesses and investors signed a letter calling for the U.S. to cut greenhouse gas emissions at least 50% below 2005 levels by 2030.

    By Cailin Crowe • April 13, 2021
  • baltimore syline
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    jimmyweee. (2016). "Baltimore" [Photograph]. Retrieved from Flickr.
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    Baltimore resilience corps could be model for cities

    Local leaders, the Rockefeller Foundation and other partners shared learning lessons from the corps' first six months, including how to leverage the program post-pandemic. 

    By Cailin Crowe • April 9, 2021
  • Food waste
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    The image by Starr is licensed under CC BY 2.0
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    Advocates call for $650M in federal funds to curb food waste in states, cities

    Atlanta, Baltimore, Philadelphia and Madison, WI are among the groups calling for annual investments through at least 2030 for food waste diversion infrastructure and other strategies.

    By Maria Rachal • April 8, 2021
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    The image by Jennifer C. is licensed under CC BY 2.0
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    Opinion

    US building codes need a major retrofit to meet climate goals and spare consumers

    The International Code Council, which recently rolled back local governments' say in energy efficiency regulations for buildings, needs to adapt to the times or step aside, writes Energy Innovation's Sara Baldwin.

    By Sara Baldwin • April 7, 2021
  • First Solar's Series 6 modules deployed in a project in Kern County, California
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    Permission granted by First Solar
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    Local governments set record for new renewable energy procurement in 2020, groups report

    Transactions last year grew renewable capacity 23% from 2019's totals, according to World Resources Institute and Rocky Mountain Institute data.

    By Chris Teale • April 5, 2021
  • President Joe Biden speaking about the American Jobs Plan
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    Retrieved from Twitter.
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    How the American Jobs Plan aims to shape 4 pillars of city infrastructure

    The administration's package looks to inject billions of dollars into the country's digital infrastructure, water, transportation and housing needs, with emphasis on racial equity and climate resilience.

    By Smart Cities Dive Team • April 1, 2021
  • MBTA
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    Lawrence, Jason. (2017). "New Flyer DE60LFR" [Photograph]. Retrieved from Flickr.
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    Boston pilots free public transit in bid for equitable COVID recovery

    The city is one of many turning to zero-fare programs, which could entice riders back onto public transit following the pandemic. But concerns over lost fare revenue may remain a deterrent.

    By Cailin Crowe • March 31, 2021
  • LA, Philadelphia and DC compost leaders look to better leverage city park sites

    As municipally supported composting grows in some parts of the country, panelists at a U.S. Composting Council event discussed solutions to common roadblocks in using parklands for such programs. 

    By Maria Rachal • March 31, 2021
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    The image by Christopher Michel is licensed under CC BY 2.0
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    Few mayors expect to keep COVID-inspired changes to public spaces, survey finds

    The Menino Survey of Mayors found that although leaders predict residents will spend more time outside, only 6% of mayors plan to keep recent changes to those spaces like closed roads and new bike lanes.

    By Chris Teale • March 31, 2021
  • Fermata Energy has partnered with the City of Boulder on a vehicle-to-grid charging project
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    Permission granted by Fermata Energy
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    New coalition calls on Biden admin to prioritize electrified transportation

    CHARGE, a group of 37 organizations, is urging EV charging infrastructure be especially deployed in communities traditionally underserved by transportation or that have struggled with pollution burdens.

    By Chris Teale • March 25, 2021
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    The image by hendricks is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
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    Cities face new roadblock in quest to decarbonize buildings

    The International Code Council removed the rights of local governments to vote on energy-efficient building codes, a move with major implications for cities as they seek to dramatically reduce emissions. 

    By Cailin Crowe • March 24, 2021
  • Knight Foundation Gehl public spaces post-COVID
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    Permission granted by Gehl
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    Community-led design of public spaces could have 'ripple effect' in COVID recovery: report

    Analysis of public spaces in Detroit; Philadelphia; San Jose, CA; and Akron, OH by the Knight Foundation and design firm Gehl found successful and resilient programming could have long-term effects after the pandemic.

    By Chris Teale • March 24, 2021
  • Cities turn to resilience corps as pandemic recovery tactic

    San Jose, CA is the latest major city to embrace the initiative, which provides jobs and skills training to residents hardest-hit by the pandemic. 

    By Chris Teale • March 22, 2021
  • Record wildfires upend lockdown-driven air quality gains

    The United States was home to 77 of the world's 100 most polluted cities at one point last year, even as some parts of the world reaped the benefits of lower motor vehicle emissions amid the pandemic.

    By Maria Rachal • March 18, 2021
  • Waterfront Toronto
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    Permission granted by Rendering by West 8 + DTAH
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    Waterfront Toronto to design 'complete community' after Sidewalk Labs split

    The group launched a competition to find a new development partner, seeking a plan that includes affordable housing and support for aging in place.

    By Cailin Crowe • March 17, 2021
  • San Antonio Texas
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    "San Antonio" by Stoic Stoat is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
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    San Antonio power provider sues ERCOT, citing 'unlawful' pricing

    Mayor Ron Nirenburg gave the city's full support for the suit against the Texas grid operator, saying "state regulators are presiding over one of the largest illegal transfers of wealth" in state history.

    By Catherine Morehouse • March 16, 2021
  • DOE to spend billions on electric vehicle R&D in jobs fight with China

    President Biden's administration is tackling transportation electrification in part to prevent China from cornering a $23 trillion market in carbon-reducing tech, according to Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm. 

    By Robert Walton • March 11, 2021
  • Pittsburgh applies equity lens amid push to plant 100K trees

    The "Equitable Street Tree Investment Strategy" aims to improve tree maintenance in low-income and Black neighborhoods, as the city also works to increase its canopy to 60% by 2030. 

    By Maria Rachal • March 8, 2021
  • National Landing BID
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    Permission granted by Courtesy of JBG SMITH
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    Q&A

    National Landing BID head explains 'most connected downtown' design

    President and Executive Director Tracy Sayegh Gabriel said the Northern Virginia area, which is undergoing major transformations ahead of the arrival of Amazon's HQ2, has embraced people-centric and sustainable growth.

    By Cailin Crowe • March 5, 2021
  • House Democrats clear pathway to 100% clean energy by 2035

    The bill would require economy-wide net-zero emissions by 2050, targeting transportation electrification, environmental justice and building efficiency. 

    By Catherine Morehouse • March 3, 2021
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    Getty Images
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    USPS to continue purchasing gas vehicles, despite Biden all-electric pledge

    The postal service says the procurement allows for flexibility, and hinted at the ability to "retrofit" some vehicles. But EV advocates say "this will lock USPS into an outdated technology for many years."

    By Robert Walton • Feb. 25, 2021
  • san diego coast
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    McDonald, Chad. (2016). "Up Up and away" [Photograph]. Retrieved from Flickr.
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    Resilient Cities Catalyst to tackle California's compounding crises

    The group, born out of the 100 Resilient Cities initiative, launched the public-philanthropic California Resilience Partnership to address challenges stemming from racial injustice, climate change and the pandemic.

    By Cailin Crowe • Feb. 24, 2021
  • America Is All In co-chairs and federal leaders
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    Screenshot via America Is All In

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    Climate leaders go 'all in' to halve emissions by 2030

    The new "America Is All In" coalition of U.S. communities, businesses and institutions, has pledged to achieve net zero emissions by 2050 with support from the federal government. 

    By Chris Teale • Feb. 22, 2021