Study confirms that access to nature in urban areas reduces loneliness
Cities tend to have a bad reputation for being places that are poor for mental health and breed loneliness, however, a team of scientists has discovered that contact with nature in cities can dramatically reduce citizens’ feelings of isolation. Loneliness is considered a major public health Read More...
Mathematical visitation law can predict urban movement anywhere in the world
The hustle and bustle of city streets may seem like a random and chaotic movement of people, but researchers have discovered that this movement can in fact be predicted with a mathematical equation─a discovery that could hold implications for the study of disease and city planning. The model Read More...
The Optimist View: The Green Divide
"Neither cities nor places in them are unordered, unplanned; the question is only whose order, whose planning, for what purpose?” - Peter Marcuse BY Amelia Buckley If you stand outside in the heat of summer, you’ll notice that things are considerably less comfortable on concrete or Read More...
Paris lowers the speed limit on most city streets
Pedestrians and cyclists in Paris are welcoming a new policy that will restrict the speed limit on nearly all streets in the French capital to just 30 kph, down from 50 kph. The law is the latest move by the municipality to advance the city closer to its climate targets and transform people’s Read More...
Basel knows how to increase urban green space: make it mandatory
Research shows that urban greenspace not only enhances air quality but also supports biodiversity and the mental health of residents. The city of Basel, Switzerland has successfully interjected greenery into its concrete jungle by making urban greenery (and all of its benefits) a legal requirement Read More...
This artificial island will protect Copenhagen from sea level rise
Like hundreds of other coastal cities across the world, Copenhagen is vulnerable to climate change-induced sea-level rise that is significantly increasing the city’s risk of flooding during storms. In a bid to protect its capital, the Danish government is now preparing plans for a huge project: Read More...
Mayors from 12 major cities commit to divesting from fossil fuels
Investing in green initiatives could accelerate an economic recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic, but if the federal government isn’t willing to divest from fossil fuels, then it’s up to local governments to do so. Recently, mayors of 12 major cities signed C40’s “Divesting from Fossil Read More...
Tartu transformed its main street into a pedestrian paradise
From Oakland and Seattle to Bogota and York, cities around the world have been showcasing the community-building benefits that come with removing cars from the streets. In another display of car-free living, the Estonian city of Tartu transformed its main street into a pedestrian-friendly paradise Read More...
This is how trees make urban areas cooler
You might consider urban areas to be the epitome of cool, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact, buildings, cars, pollution, and lack of soil, all contribute to an urban heat island effect, making cities considerably warmer than surrounding rural areas. Luckily, there is a Read More...
Urban farming has been flourishing during COVID-19 lockdowns
According to the United Nations, two-thirds of the world’s population will be living in cities by 2050. Feeding that many urban dwellers are no easy task and it can also put a lot of pressure on the environment. This is where urban farming can help. The practice can be crucial to feeding a Read More...