Urban Sustainability Bulletin

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July 2019

 GHG Reduction

Columbia Approves Climate Action and Adaptation Plan: Columbia's City Council recently approved the Climate Action and Adaptation Plan outlining actions that the city can take to reduce municipal GHG emissions 100% by 2050 and community-wide GHG emissions 100% by 2060.
 
Portland ME and South Portland ME Partner to Develop Climate Action and Adaptation Plan: The cities of Portland ME and South Portland ME announced a partnership in developing a joint climate action and adaptation plan to identify and prioritize actions in their communities. 
 
Santa Monica Adopts New Climate Action Plan: Santa Monica's City Council voted to implement a new Climate Action and Adaptation Plan, which includes actions to advance its citywide carbon neutral by 2050 goal and to become more resilient in light of climate change impacts. 
 
Takoma Park Declares Climate Emergency: Takoma Park's City Council approved a Climate Emergency resolution, which accelerates the timeline to update its Energy Action Plan and GHG inventory and sets a 100% GHG emissions reduction goal by 2035.
 
Dallas Procures Renewable Energy for City Facilities: Dallas entered into a 10-year contract with TXU Energy to power all city facilities with solar and wind, which is estimated to save the city a total of $80 million and includes funding for community programming and energy-related projects.
 
Edina Adopts Energy Benchmarking and Performance Ordinance: Edina's City Council adopted the Efficient Building Benchmarking Ordinance that will require large buildings to report their energy usage annually and low performing buildings to conduct an energy assessment.
 
Nashville Approves Clean Energy Bills: Nashville's Metro Council approved three bills that sets a municipal target to use 100% carbon-free energy sources by 2041, establishes green building standards for municipal facilities, and transitions 100% of the city's fleet to zero-emission vehicles by 2050. 
 
Philadelphia Advances Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Legislation: Philadelphia will create a commercial and residential solar rebate program and will adopt a C-PACE financing program. In addition, a bill for building energy performance requirements was introduced to City Council in partnership with Bloomberg American Cities Climate Challenge.
 
Abbotsford BC Approves Green Fleet Strategy: Abbotsford BC approved a new Green Fleet Strategy to guide its fleet transition to alternative fuels and to advance its 25% GHG emissions reduction by 2025 community-wide goal.


Bloomberg Philanthropies Launches Beyond Carbon Campaign: Bloomberg Philanthropies launched a new campaign with an investment of $500 million to advance the United States transition to a 100% clean energy economy, which includes supporting local and state organizations to pass climate and clean energy policies

Climate Resilience

Honolulu Plans for Resilience: Honolulu in partnership with 100RC published its Resilience Strategy, which includes 44 actions addressing the challenge of long-term affordability and the impacts of climate change.


Toronto Releases First Resilience Strategy: Toronto in partnership with 100RC released its first Resilience Strategy that includes actions focusing in three areas to address climate change and growing inequities: people and neighborhoods, infrastructure, and leading a resilient city.

Social Equity

Photo Credit:
Baltimore Magazine  

Baltimore Launches Digital Equity Initiative: Baltimore Free Library and Libraries Without Borders will be introducing laptops, tablets, and targeted programming services including internet access inside four laundromat locations.

Oakland Establishes Adaptive Bike Share Pilot Program: Oakland will support a new bike share pilot program that will offer handcycles, tricycles, and tandem tricycles to riders with disabilities.

Urban Sustainability

Photo Credit:

City of Abbotsford Sustainability Report May 2019

Boston Announces First Zero Waste Plan: Boston released its first Zero Waste Plan, which includes 30 near- and long-term strategies for reducing both consumption of natural resources and greenhouse gas emissions.
 
Dane County Breaks Ground on Agroforestry Demonstration Project: Dane County broke ground on an agroforestry demonstration project to teach growers about polyculture farming and techniques to conserve and build soil, providing them with potential multiple-source farm income.
 
Abbotsford BC Publishes 2018 Sustainability Progress Report: Abbotsford BC highlighted key accomplishments in transportation, solid waste, water, parks and open spaces, and planning in its 2018 Sustainability Report. 
 
USDN Members Receive LEED for Cities and Communities Program Grant Support: Albuquerque, Baltimore, Bloomington, Cincinnati, Las Vegas, Miami, Orlando, and Santa Fe were among the 15 communities that will receive technical and financial assistance from USGBC to pursue LEED for Cities and Communities certifications under the newest version, LEED v4.1 program. 
 
USDN Members Join New Accelerator Program for Improving Bike Infrastructure: Atlanta, Boston, Denver, Minneapolis, and Philadelphia joined a new accelerator program as part of the Bloomberg Philanthropies' Climate Challenge, where NACTO and NRDC will support them in designing and implementing high-quality bike and transit corridors by the end of 2020.
 
Sustainable Nation Podcast Features Evanston: USDN Member Kumar Jensen, Evanston's Chief Sustainability and Resilience Officer, was recently featured on the Sustainable Nation podcast and discussed engaging people of all ages, the importance of spaces for people of color, the USDN People of Color Support Initiative, and the city's Climate Action and Resilience Plan.