Stockholm Pursues Climate Holy Grail: a Fossil Fuel-Free Future — Part 3: Clean Heat

By John J. Berger, PhD, an energy and environmental policy specialist based in the San Francisco Bay Area, who is currently working on a new book on resolving the climate crisis. — Early Climate Efforts STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN—How did Stockholm’s energy transition begin? To properly answer that question, I went to talk with Gustaf Landahl, the head 

Continue Reading →

When science meets policy and practice: Top 3 ways to achieve Paris goals

We need to dig in and build stronger links between climate science, urban policy and practice. The interconnection between the three perspectives is critical to creating coherent policy frameworks driven by hard data and scientific evidence, and informed by practitioner expertise. Urban areas account for about 70 percent of global energy-related greenhouse gas emissions, and 

Continue Reading →

Cincinnati’s plan to reach 100: The transition of an industrial legacy city into a renewable energy hub

by Hannah Rothschild, City-Business Collaboration Officer, ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability with support from ICLEI USA To learn more about Cincinnati’s urban transition see www.urbantransitions.org _ Cincinnati’s roadmap to 100% renewable energy Following the Paris Agreement, a rising tidal wave of local action and cuts in carbon emissions has come from cities charging ahead 

Continue Reading →

The Talanoa route to new climate governance

ICLEI is laying the groundwork for a new form of climate governance worldwide. We are bringing together all levels of government to ensure national climate policies and implementation strategies are effective at the ground level. What is the Talanoa Dialogue? The mandate for the Talanoa Dialogue goes back to COP21, the 2015 United Nations Climate 

Continue Reading →

Stockholm pursues climate holy grail: A fossil-fuel-free future — Part 2: Stubborn emissions

By John J. Berger, PhD, an energy and environmental policy specialist based in the San Francisco Bay Area, who is currently working on a new book on resolving the climate crisis. — STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN—Stockholm is aligned with the Swedish government in its belief that climate change is one of the world’s greatest challenges. Sweden’s parliament, prompted 

Continue Reading →

ICLEI’s take on what to expect in 2018: The year for a reality check

Last year ended with a sense that the momentum on sustainable development is durable. It was a hard blow when the U.S. backed out of the Paris Agreement, but the global and U.S. domestic response was swift and forceful. All in all, 2017 reaffirmed that nations, cities and towns, regions, civil society and the private 

Continue Reading →

Becoming Sustainable Montréal through action and leadership

The Ville de Montréal is making sustainability a reality. From electrifying transport to promoting urban agriculture, Montréal is enacting policies and initiatives that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and help create a safe, resilient, inclusive and sustainable city. As host of the ICLEI World Congress 2018, Montréal’s initiative on climate and sustainability will be on display 

Continue Reading →

Stockholm pursues climate holy grail: A fossil-fuel-free future — Part 1: Ambitious goals

By John J. Berger, PhD, an energy and environmental policy specialist based in the San Francisco Bay Area, who is currently working on a new book on resolving the climate crisis. — It’s been 20 years since Stockholm became the world’s first city to create a formal climate action plan. Back then, the city was producing 

Continue Reading →

Cities take on climate change in Latin America

Buenos Aires, Recife and Campinas have several things in common. They are all large cities in Latin America dealing with the impacts of climate change. They face drought and intense periods of rains and flooding. They also share a strong commitment to take climate action. These cities is committed to the Global Covenant of Mayors 

Continue Reading →

From Steel City to sustainable city: The story of Pittsburgh and cities with industrial legacies

Since the first industrial revolution, extractive and manufacturing industries have formed the backbone of local economies, leading to rapid urbanization of their surrounding areas. Cities have, in turn, developed a spatial composition and social identity linked to their industrial heritage. The industrial model that shaped certain cities has, over time, proven to be unsustainable. Environmental 

Continue Reading →