Geert Groot Koerkamp provides a good article on the Deutsche Welle website about the rapid construction underway in Moscow to accommodate the burgeoning population, putting a strain on the environment and rural communities. As we are urbanising globally, it is important to step back and look at the impacts. High-rise mania overshadows Moscow’s suburban … Continue reading
Sophie Mbugua writes on the Deutsche Welle website about a new initiative to promote solar powered motorcycles in Kenya. Pollution is a big problem that needs innovative approaches. Importantly, electric motorcycles do not require an investment in new transport infrastructure such as the installation of special charging stations. It will be interesting to see how … Continue reading
Adam Fishman from the SDG Knowledge Hub at the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) explains about an interesting new report from the Asian Development Bank on climate solutions in Chinese cities. ADB Highlights 50 Climate Solutions in China’s Cities A report launched by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) outlines 50 “climate solutions” in … Continue reading
Today most of the GHG emissions is organised at the national or state level, not at city scales according to a new article on The Conversation website. These are the findings for the United States by Conor K Gately and Lucy Hutyra at Boston University. Is it any better in other countries? From pledges … Continue reading
How do we find a balance between tradition and modern attempts to digitalise our world. Santa Maria Tonantzintla was set to be one of Mexico’s first smart cities – but residents saw it as an attempt to westernise their town and leave tradition behind. All of you know there is this on-going tug. Madeleine Wattenbarger … Continue reading
Hundreds of cities are now committing themselves to be 100 per cent on renewables at specified times in the future. Kirby Calvert argues on the Policy Options website that the target is a simple and positive message, but it can unnecessarily confuse the public, fostering a false sense that this market transformation can be driven … Continue reading
This year, 36 enormous cruise ship hotels will be moored on the Thames in London between Greenwich and Tower Bridge, some for several days at a time, each burning thick diesel and belching out poisonous fumes. The toxic fumes from these cruise liners exacerbate London’s existing deadly pollution levels. Air pollution alone leads to 9,500 … Continue reading
The energy transition requires us to explore all energy options. In yesteryear, London had many rivers throughout the city. Many of the rivers now run in covered channels dating from the Georgian and Victorian periods. Mark Bridge writes in The Times about efforts to now use them for heating and cooling. Underground river could heat … Continue reading
We read regularly about urban initiatives to address climate change. Alice McClure, a PhD candidate at the Climate System Analysis Group together with Gina Ziervogel, Associate Professor, Department of Environmental and Geographical Science and African Climate and Development Initiative Research Chair at the University of Cape Town write in an article on The Conversation website … Continue reading
When we think of cities, we think of a lot of steel and concrete. We know that cities have trees and other forms of greenery and the important role they play for our health, in reducing GHG emissions and many other benefits. Of concern in the US is the increasing loss of trees, as researchers … Continue reading
