APOLITICAL 03/10/24 By Michael Shank Environmental budgeting processes in Oslo are introducing a new form of city governance featuring fewer silos, greater collaboration and more efficiencies and benefits across government. This article is written by Dr. Michael Shank, Director of Engagement at the Carbon Neutral Cities Alliance. The problem: There […]
International Analysis
Want to Accelerate Climate Action? Show People Real-Life Benefits
POLITICO 03/07/24 By Michael Shank Rather than leading with data and promoting health, safety and economic “co-benefits” as bonus add-ons, climate advocates need to flip the script. For years, the priority of many environmentalists has been to get the public to care about climate change via data and science — […]
Power to the People: Rethinking City Governance
APOLITICAL 01/07/24 By Michael Shank How cities in Europe are retrofitting to reflect new climate realities and community needs The problem: People are disengaged on climate and distrustful of government. Why it matters: We need everyone on board with no-one left behind. The solution: Embedding city staff within the community […]
Climate and Conflict Go Hand in Hand in the Middle East
NEWSWEEK 11/28/23 By Michael Shank Few recent events have so dramatically undermined a sense of global unity and inflamed world opinion as the Gaza war, which saw a much-needed break in the fighting this week with the temporary, and now extended, truce.These fissures are lasting and could destabilize a solidarity […]
Using Renewable Energy to Help Rebuild in Ukraine
THE HILL 10/04/23 By Michael Shank and US Congressman Lloyd Doggett The accelerating climate emergency demands that we seek progress wherever and whenever possible. Understanding this, the leaders of 50 Ukrainian cities and territories sent a letter to Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm (copied to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, US […]
Oslo, Europe’s Climate Budget Trailblazer
EURACTIV 08/30/23 By Michael Shank In 2016, Oslo became the world’s first city to adopt a climate budget. In an update due in September, the Norwegian capital is expected to expand the concept to include indirect greenhouse gas emissions, which would be another major first, writes Michael Shank. Michael Shank […]
Wildfires and Indigenous Ways to Stop Them
REUTERS 08/07/23 By Michael Shank Indigenous peoples’ knowledge of halting wildfires should be tapped more often as climate change stokes blazes from Canada to Australia Wildfires are on everyone’s mind these days (and in everyone’s lungs it seems, too). Whether it’s the recent and ongoing wildfires in Canada – which […]
There’s a Fossil Fuel Gold Rush Happening in Ukraine. It’s Endangering Ukraine’s Future
NEWSWEEK 05/04/23 RUTLAND HERALD 05/12/23 TIMES ARGUS 05/12/23 VTDIGGER 06/21/23 By Michael Shank There’s a looming threat facing Ukrainians, and it’s not Russian; it’s American. There’s a “fossil fuel gold rush” currently underway by American energy companies exploiting Russia’s war in Ukraine for gain. Under the guise of “liberating” Ukraine […]
How Cities are Getting Hyper-Local to Solve the Massive Challenges of Climate Change
ENCOMPASS April 2023 By Michael Shank On 20 March the IPCC again sounded the alarm that “there is a rapidly closing window of opportunity to secure a livable and sustainable future for all (very high confidence).” But it also noted that there is still time, provided meaningful action takes place. […]
Can Sewers Provide the Low-Carbon Heat We Need?
REUTERS 03/20/23 By Michael Shank In the search for cheap, green heat, cities from Toronto to Seattle are harnessing a wasted asset: human poop As the saying goes, waste is a terrible thing to waste. They don’t say that, but they should. Because one of our member cities, Toronto, is […]