4 US cities pledge to combat water woes driven by climate change

They committed to specific actions to address flood and drought risk, joining 12 other global cities in signing onto C40 Cities' new "accelerator" program.

By Ysabelle Kempe • Nov. 28, 2023

Without significant interventions, US building emissions will continue to increase

Federal, regional and local government bodies must collaborate to create “consistent and stringent building standards,” a new report says.

By Nish Amarnath • Nov. 27, 2023

Explore the 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

EPA announces $2B for local environmental justice projects

Federal climate funding has been criticized as difficult for less-resourced communities to access. The new grant program includes key elements to counter such challenges.

By Ysabelle Kempe • Nov. 22, 2023

$176B plan unveiled to rebuild Northeast rail corridor

Amtrak, states, regional commuter railroads and the U.S. Department of Transportation laid out an ambitious 15-year plan to ready the Northeast Corridor for future growth.

By Dan Zukowski • Nov. 22, 2023

Office-to-residential conversion costs can be 30% lower than new construction: Gensler

However, only 25% of the office buildings the firm assessed for adaptive reuse were deemed suitable for conversion, according to the analysis. 

By Nish Amarnath • Nov. 21, 2023

Plans to get an entire block off the natural gas system take shape in one California city

Albany, California, wants to lay the groundwork for widescale adoption of this emerging building decarbonization approach.

By Ysabelle Kempe • Nov. 20, 2023

2 years in, infrastructure law has funded 40,000 projects

The largest portion of 2021 infrastructure law money is flowing to road and bridge construction, according to White House data analyzed by CNBC.

By Julie Strupp • Nov. 17, 2023

What is recycling, anyway?

The definition of recycling is different depending on who you ask. Trade groups, government agencies and industry pros weigh in on what it really means in 2023.

By Megan Quinn • Nov. 17, 2023

Biden touts recycling’s ‘critical role’ in fighting climate change, awards $93M in EPA grants

In an America Recycles Day proclamation, President Biden called on businesses and the public to make recycling a priority. He acknowledged the disproportionate impacts of pollution on low-income communities.

By Megan Quinn • Nov. 16, 2023

Electric buses: Boom times and bumpy roads

Manufacturers are struggling to meet the demand spurred by federal funding and programs that encourage transit agencies to shift to zero-emission buses.

By Dan Zukowski • Nov. 16, 2023

Boston ends efforts to ban fossil fuels in new buildings through state program

Massachusetts’ largest city pursued inclusion in the state climate pilot program, but the mayor reported she got “clear indications” that Boston would not be selected for the last of 10 spots.

By Ysabelle Kempe • Nov. 15, 2023

Austin, Texas, releases zero waste plan as population booms

The city’s goal of achieving a 90% diversion rate by 2040 remains ambitious, but Austin Resource Recovery is planning new infrastructure and expanded collections to help bridge the gap.

By Jacob Wallace • Nov. 14, 2023

Biden announces $6B for climate resilience as report warns of ‘insufficient’ adaptation

Most U.S. climate adaptation actions are “incremental” rather than “transformative,” the nation’s preeminent report on climate change says.

By Ysabelle Kempe • Nov. 14, 2023

Understanding Kansas City’s innovative approach to winter readiness

As winter approaches, cities across the United States are gearing up for snow and ice challenges.

By Rubicon • Nov. 13, 2023

Meet Houston’s first emergency preparedness manager for vulnerable communities

Houstonians with disabilities have previously been unable to access emergency shelters and evacuation plans due to limited emergency preparedness outreach, a city official said.

By Ysabelle Kempe • Nov. 10, 2023

Lack of funding still stands in the way of California’s local climate policy

This finding in a report released Thursday is “very surprising” considering recent historic federal and state investments, said a co-author at the University of California Berkeley’s Center for Law, Energy and the Environment.

By Ysabelle Kempe • Nov. 9, 2023

EPA should put landfill methane on COP28 agenda: former Oregon governor

States like Oregon are curbing landfill methane emissions to help achieve climate goals. Kate Brown says the EPA should take greater action on this issue ahead of COP28.

By Kate Brown • Nov. 8, 2023

Feds award $653M for 41 port projects

Projects in New Jersey, Washington state and Texas are among the recipients of grants that aim to bolster U.S. supply chain infrastructure.

By Julie Strupp • Nov. 7, 2023

NYC wants a ‘blue highway’ on its waterways

To leverage its long coastline for delivery and get polluting trucks off the streets, the city is looking to the private sector for ideas.

By Ysabelle Kempe • Nov. 7, 2023

Are EV sales tanking? This Al Gore doesn’t think so.

Despite recent labor and manufacturing woes, EV sales remain strong, and cities will benefit as more electric trucks and buses hit the streets, Al Gore III said.

By Dan Zukowski • Nov. 7, 2023

Big power’s EV charging strategy: Raise rates, overpromise, underdeliver, repeat

We grant publicly regulated utilities certain privileges in exchange for reliability and affordability. When they try to leverage that privilege to corner a new market, they deserve plenty of pushback.

By Jay Smith • Nov. 6, 2023

Ørsted cancels two offshore wind projects along New Jersey coast

The projects became financially unworkable due to supply chain problems and increased interest rates, the company said. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy called Ørsted’s decision “outrageous.”

By Diana DiGangi • Nov. 2, 2023

EPA kicks off effort to help communities use climate, environmental justice funds

The agency will host a six-day “national virtual open house" starting on Nov. 6, which will include panels about how communities can use “historic” federal funds to address pollution and climate change challenges. 

By Ysabelle Kempe • Nov. 2, 2023

How cities can decarbonize delivery in the era of online orders

A new action guide by the National League of Cities points to emerging policies and technologies to combat increasing air pollution, greenhouse gas emissions and traffic congestion.

By Ysabelle Kempe • Nov. 1, 2023

Local officials demand federal policy to reduce landfill methane emissions

Ground-up strategies to bring down such emissions are insufficient, more than 50 local elected officials said in a letter to the U.S. EPA.

By Jacob Wallace • Oct. 31, 2023