Cities are playing an ever-increasing role in our low-carbon strategies. Many are working towards being 100% on renewables or carbon neutral. Joe Blakey, PhD Researcher and Sherilyn MacGregor, Reader in Environmental Politics at the Sustainable Consumption Institute at the University of Manchester question whether cities can truly be carbon neutral. They present a good argument … Continue reading
We realise more and more that we have much to learn from past experience. Landscape architect Kongjian Yu is making ‘friends with water’ to mitigate extreme weather events in modern metropolises. Brigid Delaney explains in an article in The Guardian. Turning cities into sponges: how Chinese ancient wisdom is taking on climate change How … Continue reading
There is more emphasis in the role of cities to address climate change and our energy transition. Chris Mooney writes in the Washington Post about recent research that compares the quality of growth between suburbs and city centres. You should enjoy this. Scientists just showed what building a new suburb does to the atmosphere A … Continue reading
While noting that cities are increasingly playing an important role, the authors worry that many cities are dangerously complacent about the need for speed in decarbonisation. Brendan F.D. Barrett, Senior Lecturer at RMIT University in Australia and Andrew DeWit, Professor, School of Policy Studies at Rikkyo University in Japan explain their views in an article … Continue reading
Much of southern Europe has had to cope with a major heat wave for an extended period. This situation is also true in many parts of North America and elsewhere. Nicholas Rajkovich, Assistant Professor of Architecture, University at Buffalo explains in an article on The Conversation website that multiple solutions are required for cities to … Continue reading
Athlyn Cathcart-Keays discusses in an article in The Guardian about the up and down transformation currently underway in Oslo to find a sustainable urban transport system that is satisfactory to all citizens. There are many lessons to learn from this experience. Oslo’s car ban sounded simple enough. Then the backlash began One day late last … Continue reading
Reykjavik, Iceland’s capital, plans to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to zero by 2040 by reversing urban sprawl and promoting walking, cycling and public transport. Senay Boztas discusses their plans in a recent article in The Guardian. Reykjavík: the geothermal city that aims to go carbon neutral Reykjavík used to be marketed as a … Continue reading
Laurie Winkless writes a good article in the Irish Independent about the importance of cities in meeting our climate challenges. It would be good to get your views. Investment in renewable energy key to securing future of our cities Google ‘future cities’ and you’ll be met with visions of a science fiction-enhanced urban landscape. … Continue reading
More and more we are hearing about the sustainable energy policies being pursued by cities. Feliks Garcia writes in The Independent about Boulder Colorado being the 17th city in the US to commit to being 100% on renewables by 2030. These are definitely welcome signs. By the way, how many cities in Europe have made … Continue reading
It is encouraging to see how cities are increasingly embracing the need to take measures to lower the impact from global warming. There is a good article on the CDP website about recent developments that are most encouraging. Unprecedented global rise in cities disclosing climate strategies A record number of cities are now measuring … Continue reading
