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San José Council Votes to Go Carbon Neutral by 2030

Expert BlogCalifornia, San Jose (California)Elizabeth Stampe, Sarah Elkotbeid

San Jose, the nation’s 10th largest city, has emerged as a climate leader in recent years, including by becoming the biggest city in the United States to make almost all new buildings all-electric. But the City’s work isn’t done, as…

Portland POEM Project Models Equitable Transportation Plans

Expert BlogPortland (Oregon), OregonElizabeth Stampe

As Americans readjust to life as our communities reopen, we’re unfortunately also seeing more traffic and tailpipe pollution. But Portland, Oregon, is looking to chart a different path forward.

Seattle Orders Building Standard and Walk Zone for Climate

Expert BlogSeattle, WashingtonElizabeth Stampe

Speaking from Glasgow at the international COP-26 climate meeting, Mayor Jenny Durkan announced an executive order to cut Seattle’s greenhouse gas emissions from the city’s two largest sources: transportation and buildings.

25 Cities Demonstrate How Major Climate Wins Are Possible

Expert BlogUnited StatesHilary Firestone

Cities account for an overwhelmingly large percentage of global carbon emissions, primarily through transportation and buildings. But 25 cities, empowered by the Bloomberg Philanthropies American Cities Climate Challenge, found that when they teamed up together, they could make real strides…

St. Louis Launches SiLVERS EV Shuttle Service for Seniors

Expert BlogSt. Louis, MissouriStefan Schaffer

In the transition to electric vehicles (EVs), St. Louis is thinking outside the box: On September 30, the city celebrated the launch of the innovative St. Louis Vehicle Electrification Rides for Seniors (SiLVERS), an equity-minded program that will provide EV…

New Calculator Shows Bigger Highways Won't Fix Traffic

Expert BlogUnited StatesCarter Rubin

We’ve all seen new and wider highways fill up with traffic. A new tool will help practitioners and advocates better understand the impacts of new and widened highways.

Feeding a City: Quantifying Food Waste and Its Solutions

Expert BlogUnited StatesAndrea Collins

A new NRDC Food Matters report analyzes trends in how city size and demographics affect food waste efforts, how various sectors—such as restaurants, grocers, and hospitality—contribute to municipal food waste, and which sectors offer the greatest opportunities for food rescue.

Which Way for Colorado's Transportation Future?

Expert BlogColoradoCarter Rubin, Rabi Abonour

The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) is proposing a new greenhouse gas reduction rule this fall that would require the state and its regions to cut climate-warming pollution from transportation by investing more in sustainable mobility options. 

USDA Community Compost Grants Benefit Food Matters Cities

Expert BlogUnited StatesMadeline Keating, Andrea Collins

USDA has granted $2 million to 24 local governments for community compost and food waste reduction projects, including 4 projects within the Food Matters Regional Initiative locations.

U.S. Cities Raise Awareness of Food Loss and Waste

Expert BlogUnited StatesNina Sevilla

On the Second International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste, we highlight U.S. cities that have been leading the way on raising awareness about the issues of food waste and inspiring people to take action. #FLWDay

Extreme Heat Has Extreme Health Implications

Expert BlogInternationalChantelle "Ella" Mendonsa

Extreme heat events across the country threaten the lives of the most vulnerable. We need new initiatives and policies, particularly for communities of color and low-income communities.

Climate Change Demands New Paradigm for Disaster Management

Expert BlogUnited StatesRob Moore
As climate change makes catastrophic events like Hurricane Ida, the Caldor and Dixie fires in California, and prolonged drought in the southwestern United States more likely and more severe (and recovery more costly), we need an overhaul of how we…

Building Resilience, BRIC by BRIC

Expert BlogUnited StatesAnna Weber

FEMA has announced the first selections for its new Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) grants. Did the first year of the program live up to its promises?

Saint Paul Prioritizes People, Not Parking Spaces

Expert BlogMinnesota, St. PaulZak Accuardi

Saint Paul has taken an ambitious and important step toward meeting its climate and equity goals, passing two new ordinances—one eliminating parking minimums, and the other introducing rules that prioritize safer, healthier, low-carbon transportation options in new development projects.

How Congress Can Get Cities Moving

Expert BlogUnited StatesAmanda Eaken

The Biden administration has set an ambitious climate goal for America: a 50 percent decrease in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2030. To reach this goal, changing the way we move must be key since transportation is the largest contributor…

Decarbonized Buildings & Vehicles Create Good Missouri Jobs

Expert BlogMissouriGabrielle Habeeb, Ashok Gupta

Eliminating carbon emissions from our building and transportation sectors will be critical to maintaining a healthy and livable climate. Decarbonizing these sectors is putting Missourians to work while investing in a cleaner, more climate resilient future.