Cities can play a critical role in advancing U.S. recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic by promoting green and equitable infrastructure projects, according to a new report from the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) and Bloomberg Philanthropies.

The "Coming Back Stronger" report says if cities invest in clean infrastructure policies across six sectors — access and mobility, buildings, power, broadband internet, water and natural green space — they can prepare infrastructure for the future and be better positioned to fight the effects of climate change.

The report also calls for more support from the federal government, not just in terms of direct financial investment from Congress but also through the sharing of subject-matter expertise and by instituting national standards around building codes and renewable energy portfolios.

As cities look to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and see an opportunity to shape what many have termed the "new normal" of a post-pandemic world, RMI and Bloomberg Philanthropies said investing in these six areas of infrastructure could make a significant impact.

Some of those investments include reclaiming the space originally reserved for cars for alternative modes of transportation; undertaking a national effort to fit new and existing buildings with more energy efficient features; decarbonizing the power grid; and expanding broadband access and providing clean drinking water, among others.

Rather than addressing each sector individually, the report urges city leaders to address them holistically through a comprehensive planning policy that takes into account land-use and other factors, as the interactions between those six sectors can be tremendous. The report notes that a number of cities have already started to address some of those sectors through local-level innovations.

Read the full article about green recovery by Chris Teale at Smart Cities Dive.