China taking more action to address air pollution

Keith Bradsher reports in the New York Times that the Chinese cabinet recently approved new measures to tackle the increasing problem of air pollution. China Sets New Rules Aimed at Curbing Air Pollution China’s cabinet has adopted 10 measures to improve air quality in the latest move aimed at responding to the dense smog … Continue reading China taking more action to address air pollution →

Cities in Canada also looking at sustainable energy

Larry Pynn writes in the Vancouver Sun about a new study that shows that cities would benefit by taking a sustainable energy approach. It is good to see how cities globally are playing and increasingly important role. Cities would benefit from national energy strategy based on renewable energy: Columbia Institute Canadian municipalities struggling with … Continue reading Cities in Canada also looking at sustainable energy →

City in Italy uses energy performance contracting to promote energy efficiency

Sadhbh Ní Hógáin writes in the Energy Collective about how the city of Modena is taking advantage of support from the EU to finance energy efficiency. Since joining the Covenant of Mayors in 2010, Modena has been quite active, starting with the development of a sustainable energy action plan. It will be important to watch … Continue reading City in Italy uses energy performance contracting to promote energy efficiency →

New report on cities and the contribution green policies can make to growth

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has recently published report on the benefits that can be achieved by cities taking a “green” approach. Cities can generate growth and jobs while becoming greener – this is the message of the OECD’s new Green Growth in Cities report. Drawing on case studies of Paris, Chicago, … Continue reading New report on cities and the contribution green policies can make to growth →

Los Angeles and Paris are taking lead on monitoring GHG emissions

The Washington Post published an Associated Press article on the monitoring underway in Los Angeles and Paris for GHG emissions. It is possible this approach will extend to other cities. Watch your breath megacities: Project aims to track greenhouse gases from LA, Paris Every time Los Angeles exhales, odd-looking gadgets anchored in the mountains above … Continue reading Los Angeles and Paris are taking lead on monitoring GHG emissions →

French village shows way to have wind take them out of debt

Henry Samuel writes in the Telegraph about an important lesson for local governments that are wavering over encouraging renewable energy within their jurisdiction. Are there lessons for others? The French village that bucked the austerity trend In an age of austerity when many French towns are groaning under debt, the mayor of a once-poor village … Continue reading French village shows way to have wind take them out of debt →

Is importing waste the solution?

John Tagliabue writes in the New York Times about the efforts underway to ensure there is sufficient waste for Oslo’s cogeneration plants. A City That Turns Garbage Into Energy Copes With a Shortage This is a city that imports garbage. Some comes from England, some from Ireland. Some is from neighboring Sweden. It even has … Continue reading Is importing waste the solution? →

Striving to be the first solar capital of the world

Felicity Barringer of the New York Times provides an excellent article on one city in California that is showing total commitment to solar energy. Hopefully more will be following the lead. With Help From Nature, a Town Aims to Be a Solar Capital There are at least two things to know about this high … Continue reading Striving to be the first solar capital of the world →

Planning changes in ownership of electricity utilities

Diane Cardwell writes in the New York Times about an interesting development in the US for cities to create municipal utilities, replacing private ones, so that they can take a more active role in addressing climate change, power disruptions and increase the share of renewable energy. Cities Weigh Taking Electricity Business From Private Utilities … Continue reading Planning changes in ownership of electricity utilities →

Chinese eco-cities

Clare Pennington and Sue Lin Wong write for the Green Environment blog in the New York Times on the difficulties in China for developing eco-cities. Steep Challenges for a Chinese Eco-City Fifty years ago, during a time of food shortages, China's young socialist government singled out a few farm villages as role models for the … Continue reading Chinese eco-cities →