Fortaleza, Brazil shows why waste matters for sustainable urban development
Fortaleza Waste Management
In 2002, Brazil produced 60,000 metric tons of waste per day, 76 percent of which was disposed of in landfills with no long-term management or water treatment. In response to growing challenges with waste production and trash dumping, the country ...
Why Planning for Expansion Helps Build Sustainable, Equitable cities
Urban Expansion in Sao Paulo, Brazil
Consensus is building around the many benefits of compact cities. Overall, compact cities use fewer resources, produce fewer carbon emissions, and provide better quality of life for their inhabitants than their sprawled counterparts. In rapidly urbanizing countries in the global ...
Friday Fun: China’s ‘dancing grannies’ vow to dance on
China's dancing grannies
Walk through any public square or park in most Chinese cities and you’re likely to see—and probably hear—a colorful group of elderly residents dancing and singing to their favorite classical Chinese songs. The dancing grannies, as they are known, have ...
The 8 Principles of the Sidewalk: Building More Active Cities
The Eight Principles of Sidewalks
Nossa Cidade (“Our City”), from TheCityFix Brasil, explores critical questions for building more sustainable cities. Every month features a new theme. Leaning on the expertise of researchers and specialists at EMBARQ Brasil, the series will feature in depth articles on ...
People-centric smart cities: five ways technology can support better urban living
Curitiba, Brazil and Smart Cities
What are smart cities? While there isn’t a standard definition, consensus is growing around the idea that smart cities utilize technology to foster green development, innovation, and new forms of citizen participation. Smart cities currently enjoy a strong positive image, ...
Building a more competitive Mexico City through energy efficiency
Building Efficiency in Mexico City
Buildings are an important part of the sustainability picture for Mexico City. At least 20 percent of the city’s total greenhouse gas emissions come from buildings, with growth in coming decades expected to increase energy demand. This means that improving ...
Should we inch or stride towards urban resilience?
Flooding and resilience in Dhaka
Cities in the 21st century face two monumental shifts: growing urban populations and a rapidly changing climate. As the world’s urban population nears five billion, cities will need to build more infrastructure in the first 30 years of this millennium ...
Friday Fun: Three cities’ pedestrian-friendly skyways, in photos
Hong Kong's Skyway (featured)
The rapid increase in car ownership in cities worldwide has brought conflicts between pedestrians and cars to center stage. Complete streets that accommodate all users not just are ideal in design, but have actually been successfully implemented in cities like ...
Pricing congestion to invest in sustainable transport: lessons from London
London and congestion charging
In 2003, London adopted a program of congestion pricing that now places a roughly $17 (£11.50) daily fee on motor vehicles entering central London. The effort was expected to reduce car traffic, air pollution, and emissions in the area, and ...
Why smart growth cities are safer, healthier, and wealthier
Ahmedabad, India and New Climate Economy report on sprawl
Developing countries are projected to gain 2.2 billion new urban residents between now and 2050. Governments and city leaders have a choice: they can develop cities that are sprawled and auto-dependent, or they can develop cities that are connected, compact, ...