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.
This is how facades and pavements can be used to generate clean energy
Most countries in Europe have pledged to make a sustainability goal of an energy-neutral environment by mid-centruy. And while there’s no doubt that solar rooftops will play a key role in achieving that goal, a number of projects in Europe are proving that pavements and building facades too can Read More...
Barcelona will give 21 downtown streets back to pedestrians and cyclists
If you’re curious to see what urban planning that focuses on people rather than cars looks like, Barcelona is the right city to look at. A year ago, the Spanish city introduced its “Superblocks” project, which transforms nine-block grids of the city into areas that prioritize pedestrians and Read More...
San Francisco becomes latest city to ditch gas in new buildings
We recently discussed how Ojai, California is banning gas in new construction. Now, a much bigger city is tossing their hat in the gas-free ring. San Francisco’s board of supervisors unanimously voted this week to ban gas in new buildings, making it the second-largest city in the country to do so Read More...
New York’s first professional streetery builder is keeping restaurants afloat
At the beginning of the pandemic, outdoor dining looked like a shamble of folding tables quickly pushed into bike lanes and onto sidewalks. But now, after more than half a year, al-fresco pandemic meals include colorful fences, outdoor heaters, and even, in some cities, dining bubbles. New York Read More...
Campaign to save giant fig tree in Kenya from proposed highway succeeds
The fig tree is considered sacred among Kenya’s most populous ethnic group, the Kikuyu. That’s why it was no surprise to see the Kikuyu people and other environmentalists stage protests when the country’s roads agency announced plans to uproot a giant fig tree in order to make way for a Read More...
Plantega is bringing vegan foods to your local bodega store
If you live in New York City, you will soon have easier access to plant-based ingredients thanks to Plantega, an initiative bringing vegan foods to the city’s bodegas, corner shops, and convenience stores. Your typical bodega is a small corner shop featuring processed snacks and packaged Read More...
The port city of Sunderland will host UK’s first carbon-neutral community
As the urgency of the climate crisis continues to grow, climate-friendly elements are increasingly becoming a prominent feature of urban development projects. One of the latest cities poised to experience future-proof urban planning is the post-industrial port city of Sunderland, located in the Read More...
City of Austin votes to spend $7 billion to revolutionize transportation
In a city where roughly three-quarters of residents drive alone to work, it’s no surprise that drivers in Austin, Texas, spend an average of 104 hours stuck in traffic each year. One of the main reasons behind this vehicle-mania is the city’s innate car-oriented infrastructure. That’s now Read More...
Washington’s first human compost company is open for business
Washington passed a law in 2019 allowing citizens to compost themselves after death for a more sustainable burial process. Fast forward a year later and the first human composting company is open for business in the state. Called Recompose, the company was instrumental in passing the 2019 law Read More...
Construction project completes the world’s first 3D printed two-story home
Considered one of the largest sources of environmental pollution in the world, it’s no secret that the construction industry is in need of a green revamp. One way the sector could shift towards more sustainable practices is by integrating 3D printing technology within its modus operandi. A recent Read More...