Claire Martin examines research conducted by engineering firm Arup and the Clinton Climate Initiative into the actions that cities are taking to reduce their emissions and identifies five cities, including one surprise, that are leading the charge.
Martin reviews the progressive programs and policies that the usual suspects, including London, Copenhagen, New York, and Sao Paulo are doing to curb their energy use and harmful emissions. One surprising city also made her list: Addis Ababa.
"In Ethiopia’s capital, shoddy water pipes are being replaced to help boost the city’s 50 percent leakage rate 'Cities can lose huge amounts of their often energy-intensively produced potable water due to leakage from pipes during distribution,' the C40 study authors wrote. 'Wasting potable water… increases greenhouse gas emissions, and is also a major issue for those cities that are threatened with droughts. The number of drought-threatened cities is rising due to climate change.'”
"That project joins large-scale, low-carbon housing developments that will create new homes for people currently living in Addis Ababa’s shanty towns, the C40 study showed. The city is also planning to convert 40 percent of its land to green space, which serves to absorb CO2 emissions and reduce the urban-heat-island effect. To that end, Addis Ababa’s mayor instituted a plan to plant three million new trees (the most ambitious tree-planting project in the world) and create a giant nature reserve featuring every tree and plant native to Ethiopia."
FULL STORY: Which Major Cities Are Leaders in Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions?
Judge Declares Federal Emissions Rule ‘Arbitrary and Capricious’
Another judge already vacated the rule nationwide before the latest case was decided.
Texas Court Vacates Federal Emissions Rule
The decision vacates a USDOT rule that would have required states to establish emission reduction plans.
Power Demand is Surging in US
The U.S. has entered a new power paradigm according to a new energy analysis that warns of unprecedented new demands for power, largely from “new manufacturing, industrial, and data center facilities,” and the grid is not prepared for the surge.
Depopulation Patterns Get Weird
A recent ranking of “declining” cities heavily features some of the most expensive cities in the country — including New York City and a half-dozen in the San Francisco Bay Area.
California Exodus: Population Drops Below 39 Million
Never mind the 40 million that demographers predicted the Golden State would reach by 2018. The state's population dipped below 39 million to 38.965 million last July, according to Census data released in March, the lowest since 2015.
Chicago to Turn High-Rise Offices into Housing
Four commercial buildings in the Chicago Loop have been approved for redevelopment into housing in a bid to revitalize the city’s downtown post-pandemic.
Google Maps Introduces New Transit, EV Features
It will now be easier to find electric car charging stations and transit options.
Ohio Lawmakers Propose Incentivizing Housing Production
A proposed bill would take a carrot approach to stimulating housing production through a grant program that would reward cities that implement pro-housing policies.
Chicago Awarded $2M Reconnecting Communities Grant
Community advocates say the city’s plan may not do enough to reverse the negative impacts of a major expressway.
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Barrett Planning Group LLC
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
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ULI Northwest Arkansas
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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.
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Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
