The UN’s New Urban Agenda Needs to Monitor and Review Cities’ Progress
The UN’s New Urban Agenda Needs to Monitor and Review Cities’ Progress
In October of 2016, UN Member States will meet in Quito, Ecuador for the UN Conference on Housing and Sustainable Development (Habitat III). Taking place 20 years after its predecessor, Habitat III will set the New Urban Agenda, an agreement ...
Turkey's Population and Energy Demand Are Booming. What This Means for Sustainable Cities
Turkey's Population and Energy Demand Are Booming. What This Means for Sustainable Cities
WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities in Turkey will host the 3rd Livable Cities Symposium on November 19-20,  2015 in Istanbul. The Symposium will gather national and international experts, practitioners and researchers to discuss energy and transportation policies, community engagement, and ...
How Can Cities Avoid Carbon Lock-in?
How Can Cities Avoid Carbon Lock-in?
Cities have proven themselves to be necessary in combating climate change; however, the current trajectory for urban growth is still an unsustainable path and carbon emissions are already expected to surpass thresholds considered acceptable. One of the largest problems is ...
Friday Fun: Designing Intersections for Cyclists
Friday Fun: Designing Intersections for Cyclists
Biking alongside traffic can be a stressful experience in many cities. Dedicated bike lanes are the best solution for protecting cyclists—however, many cities struggle to even put in painted lanes—a simple and cost-effective solution. At worst, cyclists have no designated ...
What’s Next for Google’s “Project Sunroof?” Reducing the Need for Power in the First Place
What’s Next for Google’s “Project Sunroof?” Reducing the Need for Power in the First Place
Google recently released Project Sunroof—an interactive online tool that allows building owners to estimate how much money they can save by installing solar panels on their roofs. In short, the tool is a valuable resource for anyone considering solar power ...
Why the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals Need Cities to Succeed
Why the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals Need Cities to Succeed
Last September, New York was filled with optimism as heads of state and government officials adopted the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) during the United Nations Sustainable Development Summit (25-27 September, 2015). Members of the urban development community also met in ...
A Sharing Economy for Governance: 3 Ingredients for Sustainable Cities
A Sharing Economy for Governance: 3 Ingredients for Sustainable Cities
The future of global development will overwhelmingly play out on the city stage. Recognizing this, the global development agenda has begun to identify cities as engines for improving human well-being, addressing climate change, and transitioning to more sustainable growth. Indeed, ...
Friday Fun: Three Neighborhoods Revitalize Their Fresh Food Markets
Friday Fun: Three Neighborhoods Revitalize Their Fresh Food Markets
“If you want to seed a place with activity, put out food.” – William H. Whyte. Packed with food, music and flowers, some fresh food markets have become popular tourist destinations in cities worldwide. Travelers weary of big-box supermarkets and ...
Brazil is Ramping up Support of Electric Vehicles
Brazil is Ramping up Support of Electric Vehicles
Anfavea, Brazil’s auto industry trade group, has predicted that personal car sales will increase 68 percent, from 3.4 million units in 2011 to 5.7 million by 2016. One of the barriers Brazil has faced when attempting to transition to cleaner ...
From BIDs to Bikes: 4 Takeaways from the TOD and Urban Real Estate Conference
From BIDs to Bikes: 4 Takeaways from the TOD and Urban Real Estate Conference
City design is at the root of many of our global problems. With traffic crashes the leading cause of death among young people and congestion burdening the economies of countless cities worldwide, it’s imperative that we develop our streets, neighborhoods, ...