City of Hoboken selected for 2026 LEED for Cities Certification Cohort

The City of Hoboken today announced that it is one of 17 municipalities nationwide to participate in the 2026 LEED for Cities Certification Cohort, an initiative led by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). The cohort is part of USGBC's broader Local Government Leadership Program, which supports cities in advancing sustainability, resilience, and quality of life for residents.

LEED for Cities provides local governments with a comprehensive framework to measure and improve performance across social, economic, and environmental indicators. Through the program, Hoboken will track key metrics, benchmark progress, and pursue third-party certification to validate its sustainability efforts.

The City of Hoboken is the only municipality in New Jersey, and one of three municipalities in the northeast, joining the diverse group of jurisdictions across the country that are committed to building a more sustainable, equitable, and resilient community. The 2026 cohort represents approximately 2.5 million people nationwide.

Participation in the cohort will support Hoboken's ongoing efforts to address climate change, improve the resiliency of its infrastructure, upgrade mobility, and expand access to open green spaces. The City will also leverage the LEED for Cities rating system to guide data-driven decision-making to further integrate sustainability into municipal operations and long-term planning.

"As a coastal city on the front lines of climate change, Hoboken understands the urgency of building a more resilient and sustainable future," said Mayor Emily B. Jabbour. "Being selected for the 2026 LEED for Cities Cohort reflects our continued commitment to innovation, environmental stewardship, and improving quality of life for residents. This program will help us measure our progress, strengthen our strategies, and ensure accountability as we work toward a greener, more equitable community."

"Local governments are a driving force behind creating more sustainable, healthier communities for all residents," said Peter Templeton, president and CEO, USGBC. "Through the LEED for Cities certification program, these forward-thinking municipalities are setting ambitious goals, measuring their progress, and demonstrating leadership in improving community health, efficiency, resilience, and livability. The 2026 cohort represents a diverse set of cities united in their commitment to creating a better future."

The following are the 16 other local jurisdictions that are part of the 2026 cohort:

• Calabasas, Calif.
• Carlsbad, Calif.
• College Park, Md.
• Commerce City, Colo.
• Fitchburg, Wis.
• Grand Rapids, Mich.
• Indianapolis, Ind.
• La Mesa, Calif.
• Longmont, Colo.
• Lower Merion Township, Pa.
• Manhattan Beach, Calif.
• Medford, Mass.
• Moline, Ill.
• Nashville, Tenn.
• Sacramento, Calif.
• Westminster, Colo.

Since its launch in 2017 through a partnership between USGBC and Bank of America, the Local Government Leadership Program has supported nearly 140 local governments, representing more than 58 million people, in their sustainability journeys. The program equips municipalities with tools, resources, and technical assistance to accelerate climate action and advance green building practices.

Through the LEED for Cities framework, Hoboken will evaluate performance across key focus areas including energy efficiency, resilience planning, public health, transportation, stormwater management, and sustainable development policies.

For more information about Hoboken's sustainability initiatives, please visit hobokennj.gov/sustainability.

About the U.S. Green Building Council

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) accelerates and scales the transformation of the built environment to minimize climate impacts and enhance the well-being of people, the environment, and communities worldwide. USGBC leads market transformation through LEED and other green building certification and enablement programs, robust educational offerings, an international network of industry leaders, the annual Greenbuild International Conference & Expo, the Center for Green Schools, and advocacy in support of public policy that encourages and enables green buildings and communities. For more information, visit usgbc.org and connect on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram,  Facebook, and LinkedIn.