Blog

Cities have incredible untapped assets and political strengths. Around the country, mayors are taking the lead on pressing social issues—climate change, infrastructure, economic revitalization, health care, and more.

"When is the next event going to be held!?" We answered this question numerous times during Columbia, South Carolina's, Bright Cities-sponsored community events. The Columbia Food Policy Committee partnered with the City of Columbia's Sustainability Office to host two cooking demonstrations designed to teach parents how to cook nutritious, affordable and non-toxic meals. Our events took place in low food access areas—Richland Library Northeast and Gable Oaks Apartments. Our goal was to share

Purchasing decisions at the local, state and federal levels account for over 20% of the US GNP, or $3.9 trillion dollars. Environmentally preferable purchasing (EPP) can drive the market toward more sustainable products while improving public and environmental health.

Jackson sits on the west bank of the Pearl River, and is replete with magnolias, wisterias and delectable Southern cuisine. Walking downtown affords a view of Mississippi’s “new” Capital building (circa 1903). Over 4,700 decorative bulbs were installed throughout the Beaux-Arts style building, and all lights are illuminated at the start of each legislative session. A few blocks away is Jackson’s Mississippi Civil Rights Museum, where the state’s legacy in the Civil Rights Movement can be

Tempe Butte, also known as “A” Mountain, overlooks the bustling streets of Tempe and the home of Arizona State University. Tempe Town Lake lies within the heart of Tempe and provides unparalleled opportunities for water recreation in a dense metro area. Construction is underway for the first modern streetcar line in the Valley stretching through downtown Tempe, with 14 stops each featuring original artwork. Tempe’s streetcar is designed to connect riders to regional destinations and

Melting glaciers. Stranded polar bears. New diseases from ticks and mosquitoes. More serious and widespread flooding. There are so many reasons to support the Climate Strike. Here’s one more; the damage that fossil fuels are doing to the developing brain, both before and after birth. The air pollution caused by the burning of coal, oil and natural gas causes ¾ of all toxic air emissions according to the US Department of Energy. For decades scientists have linked the small particles in these

Air pollution hurts people with asthma. And, polluted air makes it harder for people with heart disease. Last week a new study came out that shows that when a pregnant woman breathes polluted air, it also harms their baby’s brain. That harm shows up as a loss of IQ points measured at ages 4 to 6. The link between air pollution and IQ loss is the major finding of a study by nine research scientists in Tennessee, Washington and California published in the September 2019 issue of Environmental

What would you do if you learned that a certain insecticide is being passed from pregnant women to their babies? And that the more of that chemical that the child gets while still in their mother’s womb, the greater the damage to that baby’s developing brain? And what if you found that this pesticide, which leads to mental delays and attention disorders, leaves its residues in our food and water and on the beds and kitchen counters of the homes near the farmland where its sprayed. In 2016, the

If you see a weed-free lawn, chances are it is regularly sprayed with weed killers. The small warning signs posted in the lawn after spraying help keep kids and pets off the grass for a while, but the chemical residues persist after the signs come down. These chemicals stick to skin, shoes and soil and get tracked into our homes. All weed killers pose possible health risks, especially for pregnant women and young children. For a healthy, beautiful lawn without toxic chemicals, try these seven

Anchorage recently trained childcare providers on what to look for in household products to avoid harmful ingredients. The training focused on children’s nap mats. City employees collected mats potentially containing chemical flame retardants and exchanged them for healthier alternatives. The toxics training and nap mat change-out were developed in collaboration with Bright Cities. Flame retardants (FRs) are found in many everyday household items including furniture, electronics, cars and