How Japan managed to avoid the costly price of earthquakes
The earthquake affecting Turkey and Syria has once again highlighted the role of cities in terms of preventing or mitigating the effects of disasters. Is there more margin for saving lives? If we look at Japan, the answer is yes.
The momentum of smart cities in Latin America
This is a guest post by Lucía Bellocchio, founder and executive director of Trend Smart Cities. Lucía has extensive experience working on urban innovation, and has written in leading media outlets in South America like La Nación, El Observador, Clarín or TN. Over the past decade, Latin America has witnessed a remarkable advance in adopting innovative […]
The seven cities with the worst air quality in the world
Author | Lucía Burbano According to a recent report by the Swiss organization iQAir, only seven out of 137 countries studied meet the air quality limits set by the World Health Organization (WHO). Air pollution wreaks havoc around the world, with the exceptions of Australia, Estonia, Finland, Grenada, Iceland, Mauritius, and New Zealand. According to […]
Global birthrate decline: examining trends across Asia, Africa, and the USA
Autor | Elvira Esparza In 2050, more than three quarters of the countries will not have a sufficient fertility rate to cover the generational replacement of the population in the long term and there will be a greater division between rich and poor countries. While the population in richer regions will decline, it is expected […]
Could a super-fire lead to an urban catastrophe in Asia?
Author | Raquel C. Pico The number of forest fires is growing each year. This phenomenon is occurring worldwide and can have devastating consequences for both the planet and its inhabitants. Statistics indicate that wildfires are worsening: according to the World Resources Institute, twice as many trees are burning today compared to 20 years ago. […]
Practical approach for creating autism friendly urban environments
This is a guest post by Lucía Bellocchio, founder and executive director of Trend Smart Cities. Lucía has extensive experience working on urban innovation, and has written in leading media outlets in South America like La Nación, El Observador, Clarín or TN. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that globally, 1 in every 100 children has […]
How can cities benefit from rainwater harvesting
Can cities harvest rainwater to prevent it from destroying the soil and in turn, provide the population and crops with water? Clue: absolutely.
Neft Daşları, the story of a unique oil settlement built on sunken boats
Author | Elvira Esparza Neft Daşları is a floating city built on the sea to meet the demands of the offshore oil industry. It is the world’s first marine oil platform, constructed on sunken boats. At its peak, it featured 2,000 oil wells and 300 kilometers of bridges and roads connecting the city’s various infrastructures. […]
Cycling for all: the interventions enabling equitable access to urban cycling
Cycling is seen as one of the most healthy modes of transport, but not everyone has equal access to safety and comfort on urban streets. Luckily, there are grassroots initiatives to level the playing field when it comes to urban cycling.
This is how Venice wants to save itself
Sea water levels rose between 10 and 25 centimeters and by 2100 they are expected to rise between 60 and 110 centimeters. Land subsidence and rising sea levels are inevitable, and they are leading to the city sinking even further each time the tides rise, which is occurring more and more often.