Post Carbon Cities compiled feed

Getting Out From Behind the Wheel

Daniel Lerch — Tue, 19 May 2009 18:37:22 -0700

The New York Times' "Green Inc." blog explores reactions to a previous article on the Vauban car-free development in Freiburg, Germany. Post Carbon Cities author Daniel Lerch is quoted in this article.

Berkeley Energy Descent 2009-2020: Transitioning to the Post Carbon Era

Daniel Lerch — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 14:14:10 -0700

The final report of the Berkeley Oil Independence Task Force, to be presented to the City Council in May 2009.

PCC blog moves to greener pastures

Daniel Lerch — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 15:19:23 -0800

As part of recent changes at Post Carbon Institute, I will no longer be posting to this blog. You can find my new posts on the postcarbon.org blog.

Small, Green and Good: The role of neglected cities in a sustainable future

Daniel Lerch — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 14:18:58 -0800

Smaller cities have a distinctive and vital role to play in the work of the new century: they will be critical in the move to local agriculture and the development of renewable energy industries. Their underused or vacant industrial space and surrounding tracts of farmland make them ideal sites for sustainable land-use policies, or "smart growth." (This article quotes Post Carbon Cities author Daniel Lerch.)

Global Dashboard: A Tale of Two Cities

Daniel Lerch — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 10:19:31 -0800

This paper on cities and climate change, published by the British Council and Global Dashboard, explores the major challenges facing cities as unprecedented urbanization, resource scarcity and climate change combine to form an unstable blend of uncertainty, opportunities and risks.

A new game

Daniel Lerch — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 19:41:46 -0800

The post-World War II economy has experienced its share of crises, and each time the economy has rebounded and gone on to bigger and faster global growth. But something different happened last summer -- and we're not diagnosing the problem correctly, and we're not pursuing the correct solutions. We've essentially failed to recognize that the game has changed.

Post Carbon Cities ending daily news posts

laurel — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 14:49:10 -0800

As of 10 January 2009 we are no longer collecting news articles on the Post Carbon Cities website. When we started this service two years ago, news and information on city responses to energy and climate uncertainty was hard to come by. Climate change and fossil fuel depletion have since become widely recognized concerns among local decision-makers and planners, so the time has come to shift our efforts elsewhere.

Post Carbon Institute continues to do research on how local governments can best respond to and prepare for energy and climate uncertainty. Our database of local government actions will remain on the site and continue to be updated, as will our accompanying resource database of relevant resolutions and reports.

If you'd like to keep following the news we find interesting, you can visit or subscribe to our feed on the bookmark-sharing site del.icio.us . Our News Archives will remain online for a few more months.

Daniel Lerch, author of Post Carbon Cities: Planning for Energy and Climate Uncertainty, will continue blogging and posting articles on the Post Carbon Institute website.

We hope our work at Post Carbon Institute continues to be useful to you. Please send your questions, concerns and suggestions to us using the contact form.

Volatile times - Transport, climate change and the price of oil

laurel — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 09:36:29 -0800

There is growing consensus that councils should be leading the national effort to tackle climate change. Councils can therefore take strategic action to reduce transport related carbon emissions (a major source of climate change) which can in turn address some of the impacts of oil price oil price volatility. The report concludes with specific recommendations to central government about how it can help local government respond to the challenges and opportunities.

Mauenheim – The First Bio-Energy village of Baden-Württemberg

Daniel Lerch — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 15:42:44 -0800

Mauenheim is the first village in the German state of Baden-Wuerttemberg to meet its electrical and hot water needs completely locally from renewable sources. Electrical generations from biogas combusted in the cogeneration unit as well as electrical power from several solar power stations are fed into the local electrical grid. In addition to the environmental advantages of renewable energy sources, the project also has a high regional economical value: purchasing power stays local, as the value of energy stays in the community.

Sydney directs its development upward

laurel — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 11:14:10 -0800

Sydney's plans for future development are in the direction of dense, transit-accessible neighborhoods instead of traditional sprawling suburbs. This development pattern is expected to save the city hundreds of millions of dollars in infrastructure, transport, health and greenhouse gases.

Transit: Long-scorned, key to metros' future?

laurel — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 10:32:23 -0800

The MTA's new report, "Sustainability and the MTA," outlines a transit program for the New York metro region that could well be applied to other metro regions.

Energy Uncertainty and Community Resilience

Daniel Lerch — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 11:54:15 -0800

To build the resilience of communities against coming changes in global oil supply, urban planners and policymakers will need to turn to more systems-informed approaches to community governance and development.

London mayor launches plan to retrain jobless as energy advisers

laurel — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 11:53:54 -0800

Boris Johnson, the mayor of London, unveiled proposals to set up a "retrofitting academy" to train an army of energy advisers as he aired his ambitions to place the city at the forefront of green industry. Johnson also vowed to push ahead with the retrofitting of buildings in London that in one way or another reside in the public sector – believed to be around 25% of all buildings in the capital.

Helena sees significant drop in energy usage, emissions

laurel — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 15:54:47 -0800

A report compiled by Helena officials and the city's Climate Change Task Force shows that the Capital City's government reduced its energy usage between 2001 and 2007 by 22.1 percent and its carbon dioxide emissions by 18.1 percent. City officials knew the energy-saving changes they'd made in those years - everything from using more efficient light bulbs to installing smarter temperature controls - would make a dent in Helena's energy usage, but they were surprised to learn they'd outpaced the Kyoto Protocol's 20-year goals in less than a third of the time.

Lawrence, KS: Establishing the Mayor's Task Force on Peak Oil

laurel — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 09:55:19 -0800

The City of Lawrence will create the Mayor's Task Force on Peak Oil to develop a response plan in active consultation with the community that will address both a sudden crisis-related reduction of fossil fuels and a long term depletion of fossil fuels.

New Brunswick Emergency org.: Prepare for longer emergencies due to climate change

laurel — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 12:40:24 -0800

The rise of freak weather storms as a result of global warming means that New Brunswickers should add extra water and supplies to their emergency stockpile, according to the director of the provincial Emergency Measures Organization.

Post Carbon Cities on a snowy time-out

laurel — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 10:35:38 -0800

Like many places, Portland, Ore. is seeing a lot of snow -- snow it's largely unprepared for. But despite the county's declared state of emergency, those in walkable neighborhoods are actually doing pretty well. Unusual conditions lend a special, festive air to everything, encouraging acts of play and goodwill. Post Carbon Cities will be on break through January 4. We wish you and your community resilience and joy in the New Year.

Marrickville, NSW adopts Oil Depletion Protocol

laurel — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 13:46:59 -0800

In February 2007, Marrickville (a suburb of Sydney, New South Wales) adopted the Oil Depletion Protocol, committing to an annual 3% reduction in the use of oil by the total operations of Marrickville Council.

Growing interest in growing food

laurel — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 12:21:28 -0800

An ever-increasing number of people are interested in growing food close to home or buying food that is produced nearby. New business models are springing up, land use priorities are changing. This interest in local food can be tonic to local food security, and its encouragement can be an important part of any locality's preparation for peak oil.

Vancouver mayor Gregor Robertson promises action on peak oil

laurel — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 10:48:34 -0800

“We have to address peak oil,” said Vancouver, B.C. Mayor Gregor Robertson. “I think we underestimate this at our peril right now, and it needs to be factored in with the decisions we are making this term for sure.” The Mayor and councillor Andrea Reimer want to see the city prepared, and may seek the creation of a task force.