All articles by ttt
ttt
To attain global climate and biodiversity goals, we must reclaim nature in our cities
We cannot think of nature as something set aside in wildernesses, far from human activity. We need to conserve some elements of nature everywhere, including in the cities we live in.
Even without strong powers, mayors find a way to get things done
Mayors are generally successful in getting their policy preferences enacted. That’s why Ontario’s Bill 39 isn’t really necessary.
A brief history of London’s Christmas lights
As a switched-on city, London learned to love its Christmas lights. But they haven’t been without controversy.
Albania’s ghost towns: The crisis that caused the exodus
Albania has a population of 2.8 million people, according to data published at the start of 2021. Since the fall of communism in 1991, nearly 40% of Albania’s population has left the country.
Weston-super-Mare’s See Monster: The good and the bad of pop-up attractions
This autumn, visitors to Weston-super-Mare on the west coast of England will be confronted by the strangest of sights, a repurposed oil rig and temporary art installation and high-rise garden dubbed the “See Monster”.
What makes people feel safe at night? On the science of street lights
Street lighting may not actually reduce crime – but it can make people feel safer at night.
Are kid-friendly superblocks a way for residents to reclaim their streets?
You might remember your time as a child playing outdoors with friends and walking to school. These activities had tremendous benefits for our health and development. Today, parents report barriers to letting their kids play, walk and ride in their neighbourhood. The safety of local streets is a major concern.
Does the US national broadband roll-out have a blind spot?
There is a lack of accurate, transparent data about internet access speeds, writes Sascha Meinrath, director of X-Lab and Palmer Chair in Telecommunications, Penn State.
South Africa doesn’t need new cities: It needs to focus on fixing what it’s got
Philip Harrison of the University of the Witwatersrand and Alison Todes of the University of the Witwatersrand look at why South Africa needs to resist the urge to create new cities.
Why large trees are essential for healthy cities
Trees are important elements of our urban landscape. With more than 50 per cent of the world’s population living in cities, it is impossible to imagine cities without the many services and benefits trees provide to residents and ecosystems.