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 London’s “lost” rivers could yield heating and cooling for landmark buildings
Tag: Urban policies
Project in nine cities in Africa shows how cities have the potential to produce solutions to climate change problems
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 Project in nine cities in Africa shows how cities have the potential to produce solutions to climate change problems
Environmental concerns about the loss of urban tree cover in America
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 Environmental concerns about the loss of urban tree cover in America
Blog from Silvia Zinetti: Sprynt – sustainable urban mobility solution from the U.S.
Urban mobility is an extremely important topic for towns and cities around the world. Cities are filled with traffic congestion, noise pollution, and most importantly a deterioration of urban air quality. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), transportation in the U.S. generates the largest share of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) (28%)[i], while … Continue reading Blog from Silvia Zinetti: Sprynt – sustainable urban mobility solution from the U.S.
New Delhi named most polluted megacity
Annie Gowen writes in The Washington Post about the level of pollution in the world’s megacities. The worst one is New Delhi. The importance of this article is not to name and shame the most polluting but to show that there are approaches, as we are now seeing in China, that can make significant improvements. … Continue reading New Delhi named most polluted megacity
Stunning improvements in urban air quality in American cities starting to slow and in danger of reversing
Oliver Milman provides an important article in The Guardian about the current situation in the United States relating to climate change, urban air quality and the low-carbon energy transition. Readers will be amazed to know the gains that have been made in the US in recent decades. They will also be concerned that those gains … Continue reading Stunning improvements in urban air quality in American cities starting to slow and in danger of reversing
How 885 cities in Europe are addressing climate change
In the most comprehensive survey to date, over 30 researchers investigated the local climate plans of 885 cities in Europe. Oliver Heidrich, Senior Researcher in Urban Resource Modelling at Newcastle University and Diana Reckien, Associate Professor for Climate Change and Urban Inequalities at University of Twente provide a summary of the results in an article … Continue reading How 885 cities in Europe are addressing climate change
The mixed record of reducing urban heat
Heavily urbanised areas within cities are between 1℃ and 3℃ hotter than other areas, as most of us understand so well. Tiziana Susca, Research Fellow and Francesco Pomponi, Vice Chancellor's Research Fellow at Edinburgh Napier University write in an article on The Conversation website about the importance of reducing urban heat but the mixed record … Continue reading The mixed record of reducing urban heat
The concept of “carbon neutrality” is a lofty ambition for cities, but is it achievable?
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 The concept of “carbon neutrality” is a lofty ambition for cities, but is it achievable?
Reintroducing ancient Chinese water systems into modern urban design
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 Reintroducing ancient Chinese water systems into modern urban design
Energy in Demand - Sustainable Energy - Rod Janssen 