Heat-destroyed Lytton, B.C., features at TED conference seeking political will to solve climate change. Eleni Myrivili, chief heat officer of Athens said she hopes heat events, like those in B.C. and in her country, will be the catalyst needed for meaningful change. Chad Pawson discusses the issues in an article on the CBC News website. … Continue reading Europe’s first heat officer to help her city deal with rising temperatures due to climate change helping heat-destroyed British Columbia community
Category: urban policies
New publication from OECD: Decarbonising Buildings in Cities and Regions
Accounting for nearly 40% of global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, and sometimes up to 70% in large cities, buildings are central to the low-carbon transition. Decarbonising buildings, especially older stock, through energy efficiency improvements and renewable energy use not only reduces carbon emissions, but also generates co-benefits in health, energy affordability and the labour market. … Continue reading New publication from OECD: Decarbonising Buildings in Cities and Regions
New EEA briefing on inequalities in access to urban green and blue spaces across Europe
High-quality green and blue spaces in cities, like parks, allotments, riverbanks and coastlines, are crucial for health and well-being, in particular for the elderly, children and people on low incomes. However, a European Environment Agency (EEA) briefing, published this week, shows that access is not equal. How green are European cities? Green space key … Continue reading New EEA briefing on inequalities in access to urban green and blue spaces across Europe
Real time monitoring of CO₂ and other gases is not only achievable but is something all cities should do
One of the biggest challenges for any city seeking to reach net zero is knowing exactly where its emissions are coming from. CO₂ is not routinely measured in real time by city authorities anywhere in the world; however, a pilot project in Glasgow shows it is achievable. Craig Michie, Professor of Electrical Engineering, at University … Continue reading Real time monitoring of CO₂ and other gases is not only achievable but is something all cities should do
New EEA reports on key role of cities in Europe’s transition to sustainability
Most Europeans live in cities and cities are Europe’s economic, cultural, and political hubs. Cities face environmental and climate challenges but also hold keys to realise Europe’s sustainability ambitions. Two new assessments on urban sustainability, published by the European Environment Agency (EEA) today, combine several environment and climate themes, calling for better integration of policies … Continue reading New EEA reports on key role of cities in Europe’s transition to sustainability
“It’s impossible to solve our affordable housing crisis, our climate emergency, and people’s desire for improved quality of life against racism and disinvestment into separate silos.”
Adam Mahoney writes on the National Observer website (although article originally published on Grist) that the main problem driving the so-called “heat-island effect” is tall buildings. But there are solutions as the author explains. Tall buildings: A boon for housing, a bane for the climate crisis In the summer of 1995, Chicago experienced one … Continue reading “It’s impossible to solve our affordable housing crisis, our climate emergency, and people’s desire for improved quality of life against racism and disinvestment into separate silos.”
Making buildings greener — both in their construction and their running — could significantly affect the impact cities have on climate change
Cities are needing more buildings than ever. But buildings produce a third of global carbon emissions and the climate emergency demands a swift transition to green buildings. Energy-saving green tech and design can help a building run efficiently, but upfront emissions from construction must be considered too. Teh Shi Ning discusses the developments in Singapore … Continue reading Making buildings greener — both in their construction and their running — could significantly affect the impact cities have on climate change
With heat being an emergency for cities globally, Athens becomes the second city to appoint a chief heat officer to find ways to cool the city, beyond the obvious air conditioning in buildings
Heat is a particular problem for people in cities because built-up areas and concrete store heat from the sun, while energy use and transport create its own excess heat that adds to the natural warming effect, and there is less of the natural cooling effect of trees, vegetation and water. Athens has followed Miami-Date county … Continue reading With heat being an emergency for cities globally, Athens becomes the second city to appoint a chief heat officer to find ways to cool the city, beyond the obvious air conditioning in buildings
With urbanisation exacerbating the risks of non-communicable diseases, new approaches to urban planning can make a difference
Tolullah Oni, Clinical Senior Research Associate, MRC Epidemiology Unit and Rizka Maulida, PhD researcher in behavioural epidemiology and urban health, both from University of Cambridge write on The Conversation website how better urban planning can help reduce serious health effects. Heart health: design cities differently and it can help us live longer By 2050, … Continue reading With urbanisation exacerbating the risks of non-communicable diseases, new approaches to urban planning can make a difference
Smart traffic lights could cut emissions by a quarter
Is this the future for better traffic flow in urban areas? Smart traffic lights are now being tested in Britain. Graeme Paton discusses latest developments in an article on The Times website. Smart traffic lights get green light for cutting emissions by a quarter A new generation of smart traffic lights could be introduced … Continue reading Smart traffic lights could cut emissions by a quarter
