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.
Papilio is a self-powered street lamp designed to reduce light pollution
Human innovation has driven our civilizations forward, but oftentimes at the detriment of other species. For instance, conventional lights and street lamps allow people to work and navigate at night, but they can confuse nocturnal life and attract pollinators, killing them in the process. Tobias Read More...
This gifted dog is helping a Texas fire department by sniffing out arson
From preventing the spread of COVID-19 to helping turtle conservation and protecting wildlife, dogs continue to prove themselves as humans’ most devoted helpers. One of the latest cases that further adds evidence to this fact involves Sheldon, a dog that’s helping a fire department in Texas Read More...
How green facades can help cities mitigate the effects of climate change
According to C40 Cities, more than 970 cities worldwide are expected to experience average summertime temperature highs of 35˚C (95°F) this year. This trend, exacerbated by climate change, will negatively affect all aspects of day-to-day life including working, socializing, and traveling. Well Read More...
These floating, 3D printed office pods take remote work to the next level
As it looks like remote work is here to stay for many companies around the world, it’s likely that employees will seek to diversify the places they work from in order to prevent fatigue and blurring the work-life balance. Working in a vertical park may sound like an enticing solution, how about Read More...
Cob on Wood is a refuge center that empowers the unsheltered in Oakland
A charming refuge for the unsheltered in Oakland has taken form under a highway overpass in West Oakland thanks to a coalition of organizations and members of both the housed and unhoused community. The structures are made of “cob,” a mixture of organic materials including sand, subsoil, water, Read More...
‘Park Habitat’ in San Jose will bring the office and nature together
The benefits of being surrounded by nature have been proven by a large body of research. With that said, wouldn’t it make sense to integrate as much nature as possible into our office spaces, where — at least in non-pandemic times — many of us spend much of our time? Well, a new sustainable Read More...
Cats at Work: Chicago is using feral felines to tackle its rodent crisis
Chicago is famous for its bean sculpture and deep-dish pizza, but it’s also known for its rat problem. Seeking a natural solution to the pest problem, the city has found success in the form of feral cats. Since 2012, the Tree House Humane Society has been capturing feral felines, Read More...
Gothenburg embraces its rainy weather with pro- precipitation design
The Swedish city of Gothenburg is well known for being a frontrunner in the fight against climate change. Recently, it became the first in the world to trial a large-scale zero-emissions city zone. Now, a new initiative aims to make the city even more famous by celebrating its rainy weather with Read More...
The lettuce you eat at a Seoul Subway might literally be grown in a subway
From underground mushroom farms to rooftop oases, the urban farming movement is hitting its stride for the betterment of the planet and city residents. In South Korea, this concept is taking root in a local metro station where startup Farm8 uses 4,240 square feet to improve food resilience and Read More...
This recognition program encourages cities to plant more trees
Planting more trees in urban areas is one of the best ways for cities to improve the wellbeing of their residents while also helping them tackle a growing number of challenges resulting from climate change. In an effort to encourage cities worldwide to green up their concrete-laden cityscapes, an Read More...