The Trump administration might have dealt numerous setbacks in the fight to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but climate action in 2020 went local, with cities all over the country finding new ways to reduce emissions.
Amy Turner, an environmental lawyer and senior fellow for the Cities Climate Law Initiative at the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law at Columbia University, recently rounded a large collection of news from 2020 about cities passing laws and other egulations to combat climate change.
There's "no reason not to toast to all that US cities have done to combat climate change," according to Turner, who goes onto produce a long Twitter thread with local climate initiatives from all over the country—from California to Utah to Arizona to Kentucky to Pennsylvania to Ohio and more. Local climate initiatives listed here include bike infrastructure, open streets, solar installation programs, natural gas regulations, new transit revenues, building efficiency standards, and more.
2020 has been A YEAR, but that's no reason not to toast to all that US cities have done to combat climate change. Cities faced unprecedented challenges, but I forgot how much good stuff the accomplished, too!
Celebrate, draw inspiration, and tell me what I've missed! (1/x)— Amy Turner (@amyturner) December 31, 2020
Click through to Twitter on this first Tweet in the thread to read the whole list and link to detailed articles on each example.
FULL STORY: ...all that US cities have done to combat climate change...
Stacey Abrams Leads New Effort to Mobilize Climate Action in the U.S. South
The South has some catching up to do on implementing plans to curb carbon emissions and prepare for climate change, but the region, collectively, has a lot of reasons to do so.
USDOT Unveils Strategies to Achieve Near-Zero Transportation Emissions
Three key strategies — reducing travel distances, increasing energy-efficient travel modes, and transitioning to zero-emission vehicles and fuels — are recommended to meet national climate goals under the Paris Agreement.
Michigan Proposal to Attract Data Centers Garners Criticism
The state legislature is poised to pass a law that would bring more data centers to the state, but critics say the move would threaten the state’s climate goals.
Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program
Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series
The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.
Driving Equity and Clean Air: California Invests in Greener School Transportation
California has awarded $500 million to fund 1,000 zero-emission school buses and chargers for educational agencies as part of its effort to reduce pollution, improve student health, and accelerate the transition to clean transportation.
Congress Moves to End Reconnecting Communities and Related Grants
The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee moved to rescind funding for the Neighborhood Equity and Access program, which funds highway removals, freeway caps, transit projects, pedestrian infrastructure, and more.
From Throughway to Public Space: Taking Back the American Street
How the Covid-19 pandemic taught us new ways to reclaim city streets from cars.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
Ada County Highway District
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service