2019 has been kind of a banner year for municipal climate action. In the spirit of year-end reminiscing, here are my top twenty developments at the U.S. cities-law-climate-mitigation nexus. 🧵 in no particular order. 1/22 
@ColumbiaClimate @leagueofcities @c40cities @ICLEI_USA @theUSDN @CarbnNtrlCities @RockyMtnInst @WRIRossCities They peaked emissions: 10 U.S. cities have peaked their greenhouse gas emissions. This means that not only are emissions in these cities on the decline, but they can share their hard-earned wisdom with others targeting net zero. More from @c40cities 2/22 c40.org/press_releases…
@ColumbiaClimate @leagueofcities @c40cities @ICLEI_USA @theUSDN @CarbnNtrlCities @RockyMtnInst @WRIRossCities They went big: a big challenge merits a big goal, @A2GOV is meeting the task before it, setting a pace-setting target of carbon neutrality by 2030. Would love to see a little friendly competition among U.S. cities in 2020! 3/22 mlive.com/news/ann-arbor…
@ColumbiaClimate @leagueofcities @c40cities @ICLEI_USA @theUSDN @CarbnNtrlCities @RockyMtnInst @WRIRossCities @A2GOV They banned gas: beginning with @CityofBerkeley, more than a dozen CA cities plus @TownofBrookline in MA have banned natural gas hookups in new blogs. Lawsuits & Qs re muni authority remain - I'm working to help these bans pass legal muster in 2020. 4/22 bostonglobe.com/business/2019/…
@ColumbiaClimate @leagueofcities @c40cities @ICLEI_USA @theUSDN @CarbnNtrlCities @RockyMtnInst @WRIRossCities @A2GOV @CityofBerkeley @TownofBrookline They dealed green: cities like @SeattleOSE took inspiration from the federal level and adopted their own #GreenNewDeal. While Seattle's resolution is non-binding, I can't wait to see what they do with it. 5/22 insideclimatenews.org/news/13082019/…
@ColumbiaClimate @leagueofcities @c40cities @ICLEI_USA @theUSDN @CarbnNtrlCities @RockyMtnInst @WRIRossCities @A2GOV @CityofBerkeley @TownofBrookline @SeattleOSE They tackled buildings: buildings are the #1 or #2 emitters in U.S. cities. @nyclimate took this head on, setting a carbon cap & requiring deep energy retrofits in NYC's largest bldgs. @GreenworksPhila followed suit with its own bldg efficiency reqs. 6/22 urbangreencouncil.org/content/projec…
@ColumbiaClimate @leagueofcities @c40cities @ICLEI_USA @theUSDN @CarbnNtrlCities @RockyMtnInst @WRIRossCities @A2GOV @CityofBerkeley @TownofBrookline @SeattleOSE @NYClimate @GreenworksPhila They zoned: upzoning is one of the most politically difficult climate-friendly legal tweaks to pull off. @CityMinneapolis made it happen. Major affordability & equity benefits. @somervillecity also ^zoned for density, tiny homes & more bike storage. 7/22 tcf.org/content/report…
@ColumbiaClimate @leagueofcities @c40cities @ICLEI_USA @theUSDN @CarbnNtrlCities @RockyMtnInst @WRIRossCities @A2GOV @CityofBerkeley @TownofBrookline @SeattleOSE @NYClimate @GreenworksPhila @CityMinneapolis @SomervilleCity They incorporated equity: the new @Sustain_PVD Climate Justice Plan "addresses the system-level changes that are needed to ensure a just and equitable transition away from fossil fuels." Much more of this in 2020, please! 8/22 providenceri.gov/sustainability…
@ColumbiaClimate @leagueofcities @c40cities @ICLEI_USA @theUSDN @CarbnNtrlCities @RockyMtnInst @WRIRossCities @A2GOV @CityofBerkeley @TownofBrookline @SeattleOSE @NYClimate @GreenworksPhila @CityMinneapolis @SomervilleCity @Sustain_PVD They budgeted: @PortlandBPS is setting an internal price on carbon, offsetting✈️ travel & requiring city agencies to account for climate impacts in their budgets. @nyccouncil also has a climate budget bill pending. 9/22 kptv.com/news/city-of-p…
@ColumbiaClimate @leagueofcities @c40cities @ICLEI_USA @theUSDN @CarbnNtrlCities @RockyMtnInst @WRIRossCities @A2GOV @CityofBerkeley @TownofBrookline @SeattleOSE @NYClimate @GreenworksPhila @CityMinneapolis @SomervilleCity @Sustain_PVD @PortlandBPS @NYCCouncil They thought creatively: starting in a few years, the sewage treatment plant in @RaleighGov is poised to produce enough fuel to power 50 public buses each day. (Didn't think I could use poised and sewage in the same sentence, did you?) 10/22 newsobserver.com/news/local/cou…
@ColumbiaClimate @leagueofcities @c40cities @ICLEI_USA @theUSDN @CarbnNtrlCities @RockyMtnInst @WRIRossCities @A2GOV @CityofBerkeley @TownofBrookline @SeattleOSE @NYClimate @GreenworksPhila @CityMinneapolis @SomervilleCity @Sustain_PVD @PortlandBPS @NYCCouncil @RaleighGov They PACEd: while PACE financing, green-retrofit financing that attaches to property taxes, is used around the US, some major cities are just catching up. @SustainChicago's first PACE-backed projects came online in 2019 & PACE in NYC is set for 2020. 11/22 chicago.curbed.com/2019/12/4/2099…
@ColumbiaClimate @leagueofcities @c40cities @ICLEI_USA @theUSDN @CarbnNtrlCities @RockyMtnInst @WRIRossCities @A2GOV @CityofBerkeley @TownofBrookline @SeattleOSE @NYClimate @GreenworksPhila @CityMinneapolis @SomervilleCity @Sustain_PVD @PortlandBPS @NYCCouncil @RaleighGov @SustainChicago They reorganized: @CityofDenver will establish an Office of Climate Action, Sustainability, & Resiliency in July 2020. Unlike its predecessor, it won't "have to compete for budget money with the same people who are doing inspections at restaurants.” 12/22 denverite.com/2019/11/18/its…
@ColumbiaClimate @leagueofcities @c40cities @ICLEI_USA @theUSDN @CarbnNtrlCities @RockyMtnInst @WRIRossCities @A2GOV @CityofBerkeley @TownofBrookline @SeattleOSE @NYClimate @GreenworksPhila @CityMinneapolis @SomervilleCity @Sustain_PVD @PortlandBPS @NYCCouncil @RaleighGov @SustainChicago @CityofDenver They went fare-free: what better way to prioritize public transit than to make it free? @KCMO did just that. Transit + climate + equity = win. (@MTA could learn a thing or two from this one.) 13/22 435mag.com/kansas-city-be…
@ColumbiaClimate @leagueofcities @c40cities @ICLEI_USA @theUSDN @CarbnNtrlCities @RockyMtnInst @WRIRossCities @A2GOV @CityofBerkeley @TownofBrookline @SeattleOSE @NYClimate @GreenworksPhila @CityMinneapolis @SomervilleCity @Sustain_PVD @PortlandBPS @NYCCouncil @RaleighGov @SustainChicago @CityofDenver @KCMO @MTA They joined forces: @CityofSanDiego is leading several CA cities in a community choice aggregation initiative to leverage their collective purchasing power. Cities can do a lot alone -- and even more together. 14/22 sandiegouniontribune.com/business/energ…
@ColumbiaClimate @leagueofcities @c40cities @ICLEI_USA @theUSDN @CarbnNtrlCities @RockyMtnInst @WRIRossCities @A2GOV @CityofBerkeley @TownofBrookline @SeattleOSE @NYClimate @GreenworksPhila @CityMinneapolis @SomervilleCity @Sustain_PVD @PortlandBPS @NYCCouncil @RaleighGov @SustainChicago @CityofDenver @KCMO @MTA @CityofSanDiego They put frontline-communities first: the @LACityCouncil voted (unanimously!) to create the Climate Emergency Mobilization Department to help address climate impacts to frontline communities. #climatejustice is #climateaction. 15/22 nbclosangeles.com/news/new-depar…
@ColumbiaClimate @leagueofcities @c40cities @ICLEI_USA @theUSDN @CarbnNtrlCities @RockyMtnInst @WRIRossCities @A2GOV @CityofBerkeley @TownofBrookline @SeattleOSE @NYClimate @GreenworksPhila @CityMinneapolis @SomervilleCity @Sustain_PVD @PortlandBPS @NYCCouncil @RaleighGov @SustainChicago @CityofDenver @KCMO @MTA @CityofSanDiego @LACityCouncil They renegotiated: munis are increasingly telling me that they're considering how to renegotiate soon-expiring electric franchise agreements. I'm diving deep right now and this is a hugely exciting opportunity. 16/22 citiesspeak.org/2019/11/19/cou…
@ColumbiaClimate @leagueofcities @c40cities @ICLEI_USA @theUSDN @CarbnNtrlCities @RockyMtnInst @WRIRossCities @A2GOV @CityofBerkeley @TownofBrookline @SeattleOSE @NYClimate @GreenworksPhila @CityMinneapolis @SomervilleCity @Sustain_PVD @PortlandBPS @NYCCouncil @RaleighGov @SustainChicago @CityofDenver @KCMO @MTA @CityofSanDiego @LACityCouncil They prioritized buses: after months of litigation delay, @NYC_DOT shut down 14th Street to all traffic but buses. Bus riders (long-timers & new ones) are thrilled with improved times. And no car-pocolypse! (SF also voted to ban cars on Market St!) 17/22 nytimes.com/2019/10/13/nyr…
@ColumbiaClimate @leagueofcities @c40cities @ICLEI_USA @theUSDN @CarbnNtrlCities @RockyMtnInst @WRIRossCities @A2GOV @CityofBerkeley @TownofBrookline @SeattleOSE @NYClimate @GreenworksPhila @CityMinneapolis @SomervilleCity @Sustain_PVD @PortlandBPS @NYCCouncil @RaleighGov @SustainChicago @CityofDenver @KCMO @MTA @CityofSanDiego @LACityCouncil @NYC_DOT They municipalized: @bouldercolorado began the process of taking over the local electric utility several years ago & in 2019 saw wins & losses in court. Most recently, state regulators authorized the transfer of some assets needed for a muni utility. 18/22 utilitydive.com/news/colorado-…
@ColumbiaClimate @leagueofcities @c40cities @ICLEI_USA @theUSDN @CarbnNtrlCities @RockyMtnInst @WRIRossCities @A2GOV @CityofBerkeley @TownofBrookline @SeattleOSE @NYClimate @GreenworksPhila @CityMinneapolis @SomervilleCity @Sustain_PVD @PortlandBPS @NYCCouncil @RaleighGov @SustainChicago @CityofDenver @KCMO @MTA @CityofSanDiego @LACityCouncil @NYC_DOT @bouldercolorado They sought accountability: @HonoluluGov became the latest in a string of cities to sue the major oil & gas companies alleging damages from the impacts of climate change. @ColumbiaClimate is watching all of these closely. 19/22 hawaiipublicradio.org/post/city-anno…
@ColumbiaClimate @leagueofcities @c40cities @ICLEI_USA @theUSDN @CarbnNtrlCities @RockyMtnInst @WRIRossCities @A2GOV @CityofBerkeley @TownofBrookline @SeattleOSE @NYClimate @GreenworksPhila @CityMinneapolis @SomervilleCity @Sustain_PVD @PortlandBPS @NYCCouncil @RaleighGov @SustainChicago @CityofDenver @KCMO @MTA @CityofSanDiego @LACityCouncil @NYC_DOT @bouldercolorado @HonoluluGov They priced driving: I promised myself I'd limit NYC items in this list to 2, so let's just say I am extremely pleased/curious about cities like @SeattleOSE, @sfgov & @LACity exploring congestion pricing. And here's to CP in NYC in 2021! 20/22 seattle.curbed.com/2019/5/29/1864…
@ColumbiaClimate @leagueofcities @c40cities @ICLEI_USA @theUSDN @CarbnNtrlCities @RockyMtnInst @WRIRossCities @A2GOV @CityofBerkeley @TownofBrookline @SeattleOSE @NYClimate @GreenworksPhila @CityMinneapolis @SomervilleCity @Sustain_PVD @PortlandBPS @NYCCouncil @RaleighGov @SustainChicago @CityofDenver @KCMO @MTA @CityofSanDiego @LACityCouncil @NYC_DOT @bouldercolorado @HonoluluGov @sfgov @LACity They used (& litigated) data: cities use data to assess impacts of micromobility on traffic, pollution & more. Uber & LA have been litigating & I'm watching - data will be one of the big legal issues informing muni carbon mitig policies in the 2020s. 21/22 latimes.com/california/sto…
@ColumbiaClimate @leagueofcities @c40cities @ICLEI_USA @theUSDN @CarbnNtrlCities @RockyMtnInst @WRIRossCities @A2GOV @CityofBerkeley @TownofBrookline @SeattleOSE @NYClimate @GreenworksPhila @CityMinneapolis @SomervilleCity @Sustain_PVD @PortlandBPS @NYCCouncil @RaleighGov @SustainChicago @CityofDenver @KCMO @MTA @CityofSanDiego @LACityCouncil @NYC_DOT @bouldercolorado @HonoluluGov @sfgov @LACity This started as a list of 10 and worked its way up to 25 before I pared it back. Needless to say, I am really looking forward to working with @columbiaclimate and all of our city and network partners on these issues and many more in 2020! 22/fin
