Smart Cities No Longer an Urban Legend
Ahmedabad, India Smart Cities
This article was originally published in The Economic Times. Today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi formally launches the government’s ambitious Smart Cities initiative, which aims to tackle key issues resulting from India’s rapid urbanization. In addition, the ‘Atal Mission’ and ‘Housing ...
How Transit-Oriented Development Benefits Local Economies
Nossa Cidade TOD 1
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 in WRI’s sustainable urban mobility team in Brazil, the series will feature in ...
Enrique Peñalosa: Our Streets Belong to All
Enrique Penalosa
Enrique Peñalosa, Bogota’s former mayor, will come to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on September 9  for the Mayors´ Summit. The event is hosted by WRI Brasil | EMBARQ Brasil as part of EMBARQ Brasil’s 10th anniversary celebration. Here is an exclusive interview for ...
Why Cities Need Youth Innovation for a Low Carbon Future
Youth Innovation
Given our increasingly complex and dynamic world, cities need to be continuously innovating in order to solve pressing social and environmental problems. Many cities worldwide are growing rapidly, and by 2050 it is estimated that 70 per cent of the world’s ...
Friday Fun: Hacking Our Way to Global Climate Action with #Climathon
Hackathon technology cell phone
Yesterday was an incredibly significant day for climate change action. Not only did the highly anticipated release of Pope Francis’ Climate Change Encyclical, which calls for people worldwide—regardless of religious affiliation—to make more sustainable lifestyle and consumption choices,  inspire action ...
The First "Urban Pope"
A Brazilian slum, or favela, and a cross. Pope Francis's Encyclium addresses urban poverty and inequality as well as climate change. Chico Ferreira/Flickr
Pope Francis is proving to be the first “environmentalist pope.” It turns out he also may be the first urbanist pope–not counting the aptly named Pope Urban of the 3rd Century. Today marks an important milestone in the global effort ...
In Photos: Raahgiri Day Making A Difference for Youth with Disabilities
Inclusive Raahgiri Featured
Launched in Gurgaon, India in 2013, Raahgiri Day closes down city streets to cars, bringing people of all ages out to walk, bike, make music, and socialize. Recently, India’s Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, along with the Municipal Corporation ...
7 Principles for Transit-Oriented Development
São Paulo crosswalk
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 in WRI’s sustainable urban mobility team in Brazil, the series will feature in ...
Suburbia Goes Global: What It Means for Urban Sustainability
Orange county in the Beijing suburbs
Red tile roofs, a backyard barbecue, a clubhouse in the style of a French chateau. Welcome to Orange County. No, not Orange County, California, the famed suburban region known for its beaches and McMansions. This is Orange County, Beijing. The ...
Designing for a Sustainable Future: A Q&A with Jared Green
Green spaces in cities, such as New York's High Line, promote an active, sustainable lifestyle for city residents. Photo by David Berkowitz/Flickr.
For Designed for the Future: 80 Practical Ideas for a Sustainable World, Jared Green asked 80 architects, landscape architects, urban planners, non-profit leaders, journalists, and artists—all people shaping the future of our built and natural environments—the same question: what gives ...