Sustainable Urban Development
With cities expected to host about 70 percent of the world's population, sustainable urban development is key to making communities worldwide more resilient against the growing threat of climate change. Find out about the latest urban practices from across the world aiming to make our cities more sustainable and inclusive in these good-news stories from The Optimist Daily.
Turin transforms abandoned tramway into an attractive community park
Here at The Optimist Daily, we are big fans of sustainable urban development projects that put community front center. The creation of the Precollinear Park in Turin, Italy, is exactly this type of project. The park came about as the result of a placemaking initiative by nonprofit Torino Read More...
Spray on road treatment cools cities and absorbs exhaust fumes
The heat island effect can make temperatures in cities ten degrees warmer than surrounding rural areas. This is not only uncomfortable for residents but can also have dangerous health impacts during heat waves. To address this issue, Pavement Technology Inc. has created a new treatment for roads Read More...
New York introduces mandatory racial impact studies for large developments
New development projects are a fact of life in urban areas, but unfortunately, these developments displace marginalized communities and families of color at a disproportionate rate. Communities that developers feel do not have the resources to advocate for themselves are taken advantage of and Read More...
There may be a better and more beautiful way to treat wastewater: Willow trees
The unpredictable and extreme weather patterns we are experiencing due to the climate crisis are making it increasingly difficult, especially for big urban areas, to stay on top of storm drainage and wastewater management. Heavy rainfall and flooding overwhelm stormwater management systems, Read More...
Beavers to be reintroduced to London in urban rewilding initiative
Rewilding and reintroducing species to their natural habitats is gaining popularity, especially in remote and rural places—but urban areas can also benefit from this practice. Citizen Zoo, a rewilding group whose goal is to bring nature to urban areas, is behind London’s initiative to Read More...
This UK city is making its urban space greener with bee-friendly bus stops
About two years ago, we wrote about an amazing bee-friendly initiative in the Dutch city of Utrecht. Looking to make its urban space as accommodating as possible to pollinators, the fourth largest city in the Netherlands decided to adorn hundreds of its bus stops with green rooftops — thus Read More...
Rosario, Argentina: A case study in the benefits of urban farming
In an effort to address the financial collapse of 2001, the municipal government of Rosario, Argentina came up with an ingenious plan to get the city’s residents back to work. Officials partnered with 700 farming families to dedicate unused land in the city for farming. This not only created Read More...
Tree Equity Score tool maps out critical areas for urban forestry
Trees and urban green spaces are essential for city dwellers. Vegetation improves air quality, and tree cover provides shade from the heat of the sun—something that is increasingly sought after as human-induced climate change takes temperatures to extremes. Unfortunately, low-income Read More...
Study of 90 cities links green space access with increased happiness
More and more cities are making tree-planting and green space allocation a key part of their urban planning strategy. Not only do green spaces mitigate the heat island effect, but they also work to purify the air and improve the health of residents. The correlation between nature and happiness has Read More...
This map app helps pedestrians in Barcelona stay cool on the shadiest routes
A new app launched in Barcelona is helping the city’s residents deal with scorching temperatures this summer by finding the shadiest and coolest routes for pedestrians. The pedestrian routing app, called Cool Walks, was first developed at a data visualization contest. Its purpose is to show Read More...