Cities Can Lead the Way in America's Recovery and Transition to a Sustainable Future

Strategic Insights -

As the US continues to grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath, a new report from Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) and Bloomberg Philanthropies highlights the critical role that cities can play in driving economic recovery, climate action, and social equity. The report, titled "Coming Back Stronger: A City-Driven Infrastructure Agenda for a Cleaner, More Resilient, More Equitable America," outlines a comprehensive framework for cities to adopt clean infrastructure policies and investments that prioritize people, transit, and mobility alternatives, energy efficiency, and clean energy.

Key Takeaways:

  • The report emphasizes the importance of city-led initiatives in driving economic recovery and addressing climate change, highlighting success stories from Seattle, WA, and Boulder, CO, in building efficiency programs.
  • The analysis recommends a suite of clean infrastructure policies and investments across six sectors, including access and mobility, buildings, power, broadband, water, and natural systems.
  • Cities can create green infrastructure, such as urban green spaces, to buffer against and serve as an alternative to human-made systems, as seen in Denver, CO's significant expansion of equitable access to urban green space.
  • The report emphasizes the need for federal and state governments to support and recognize the critical role of cities in leading on climate action and economic recovery efforts.
  • Cities can implement comprehensive approaches to urban land-use, such as Portland, OR's use of a phased approach to redevelopment, to address challenges related to mobility, energy, housing, natural systems, and resilience.

Statistics:

  • The US is facing a $2 trillion infrastructure deficit, which can be addressed by investing in clean infrastructure policies and investments.
  • Cities can create up to 10 million jobs in the clean energy sector by 2050, as projected by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.
  • The Bloomberg American Cities Climate Challenge has worked with hundreds of cities across the country to implement climate action plans and promote sustainable practices.

Sources:

  • Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) - https://rmi.org/
  • Bloomberg Philanthropies - https://bloomberg.org/
  • Coming Back Stronger: A City-Driven Infrastructure Agenda for a Cleaner, More Resilient, More Equitable America - rmi.org/insight/coming-back-stronger