Environment
Basics
Talking Headways Podcast: How Zoning Broke American Cities
How were cities regulated before zoning — and should zoning abolition be the ultimate goal?
September 1, 2022
New Climate Policies Target the Commonwealth’s Worst Polluter: MassDOT
While other sectors of the Massachusetts economy are reducing their consumption of fossil fuels, pollution on MassDOT's roadways has been getting worse. Here's why.
July 11, 2022
Highway Pollution Is Surging Back Towards Pre-Pandemic Levels
The finding undermines hope that increased work-from-home arrangements can have a major impact on meeting the state’s climate goals.
May 12, 2022
Study: Most EV Rebates Had No Effect on Buyers’ Choices
Surveys of program participants found that more than half of rebate recipients were "free riders" — car buyers who would have chosen an electric car with or without the state's cash, but took the money anyhow.
May 6, 2022
Why Lithium Mining For EV Batteries Should Be Our ‘Absolute Last Resort’
"We can't mine our way out of the climate crisis," one activist said.
May 3, 2022
Mass. Governor Developing E-Bike Incentive Program
The Baker administration wants to help more Bay State residents purchase electric pedal-assist bicycles.
May 3, 2022
International Climate Report Demands ‘Systemic’ Changes to Transportation and Urban Planning
Simply replacing gasoline with batteries won't be enough: cities must also dramatically curtail the use of automobiles and build more walkable neighborhoods to avoid "locking in" future emissions by building more car-dependent infrastructure.
April 22, 2022
COBALT WARS: Just When You Thought Electric Cars Were Going to Save Us…
...the shortage of key minerals means we'll likely be addicted to oil for a lot longer.
March 16, 2022
Talking Headways Podcast: Real Talk on Development and Climate Action
This week, Adie Tomer from Brookings talks about how transit-oriented development and active transportation play into climate strategies. We talk about mitigation versus adaptation strategies and what solutions work best for each.
March 10, 2022
USDOT Pressures States To Spend New Infrastructure Funds Sustainably
As states begin cashing no-strings-attached federal infrastructure checks, U.S. DOT is pushing them to spend those funds on projects that will help end the climate and roadway death crises.
December 17, 2021
