Climate Cities

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  • A Mess In-a Messina

    Italy has declared states of environmental emergency in Venice, Milan, and Messina. Venice is beset with water pollution caused by boat traffic in its canals, while road traffic in the other two cities is producing too much air pollution. The country’s parliament may now appoint local commissioners to impose tough new anti-pollution measures, such as […]

    Grist staff Cities

  • Fat City

    Environmental problems ranging from toxic waste to air pollution have long been recognized as having human health effects — but what about urban sprawl? A study released yesterday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says sprawl creates or exacerbates many common health problems, such as obesity, heart disease, diabetes, and asthma. The report […]

    Grist staff Cities

  • Bus-ted

    The city of New Delhi has less than four months to convert all diesel buses to natural gas, following an order today by India’s Supreme Court. New Delhi has missed several previous court deadlines, and at least 9,000 of the city’s 12,000 public buses still rely on diesel fuel. The Supreme Court orders have sparked […]

    Grist staff Cities

  • If You Build It, Sprawl Won't Come

    In the wake of the destruction of the World Trade Center tower, environmentalists are calling for a rapid rebuilding of lower Manhattan as a way to fight increased urban sprawl and traffic congestion. They worry that the sudden shortage of office space downtown, combined with concerns about security and the economy, could drive corporations out […]

    Grist staff Cities

  • McTraffic Jam

    Suzy Becker Cities

  • The Bus Stops Here

    India’s Supreme Court today postponed a Sunday deadline for all buses in Delhi to convert from diesel fuel to compressed natural gas, saying that commuters would be inconvenienced if diesel buses were taken off the road because the city has done little to comply with a court order to improve air quality. About 9,000 of […]

    Grist staff Cities

  • Lightweight Reading

    Lightweight, fuel-efficient cars do just fine in Rocky Mountain winters, say some Grist readers, disagreeing with a recent letter to the editor that backed SUVs as the practical mode of transportation during snow season. Others agree that SUVs are a big help, and they applaud a push by some automakers to manufacture gas-electric hybrid SUVs. […]

    Grist staff Cities

  • They Could Car Less

    Seattle is finding sweet success with an experimental program that encourages couples to give up their extra vehicle. After a recent nine-week pilot program, six of 23 couples were thinking of selling their extra car, two were trying to sell it, and two had already sold it. The couples were paid $25 for the first […]

    Grist staff Cities

  • Montezuma's Revenge

    Mexico City, known the world ’round for its air pollution, will soon unveil a new 10-year plan to tackle the problem. The plan by the Metropolitan Environmental Commission will aim to reduce ozone and particulate levels in the air by taking such steps as retiring old trucks, limiting cargo circulation hours, using more natural gas […]

    Grist staff Cities

  • Songbird Populations Drop in the U.S.

    For each species of songbird whose population is on the rise in the U.S., two species are in decline, says Jeff Wells of the National Audubon Society. Of the 116 species whose populations have fluctuated since 1966, 76 have decreased significantly. Urban sprawl, and all that comes along with it (farmland and forest loss, more […]

    Grist staff Cities