san jose had a zero-emission vehicle mandate.

detroit built a 27.5-mile greenway.

boston was churning out climate tech companies.

seattle had zero-carbon skyscrapers and a utility running on hydropower.

minneapolis had an electric zipcar rental service.

salt lake city was considering a gondola to the mountains.

milwaukee was cleaning its water system.

nashville needed votes for a public transit overhaul.

san antonio was paving sustainable roads, but faced backlash.

some cities, like birmingham, alabama, weren’t doing much.

cities that align ambitious leadership on sustainability, make climate issues salient, mobilize capital and engineers into action, and earn community support by packaging sustainability with broader social and economic benefits, can make things happen.

i’m wondering how to fight the battle in buffalo, and new york.