What do a liberal arts degree, a congested street, and the City of Toronto have in common? They all link back to our CityChanger Jennifer Keesmaat, an unconventional urban planner. We sat down with this inspiring changemaker to find out what makes her tick.
Jennifer...
When you think of New York, what is the first thing that comes to your mind? Cycling is probably not on top of your list. It seems dangerous, especially for outsiders, but this is starting to change thanks to the incredible and hard work...
Food security will be one of the greatest challenges that humans face in the years ahead. Urban agriculture reduces reliance on rural imports, but a bad harvest can threaten financial viability of small producers and strain supplies again. Community supported agriculture is an alternative...
We may be modern individuals living in civilized cities, but we are still creatures of nature at heart. So, how does greenery play a part in our mental well-being? Why do we seem to decompress when in contact with vegetation? Why should we integrate...
In a hostile environment where migrants are denied access to the services and basic rights others enjoy, finding secure, quality, safe, and affordable long-term housing remains one of the biggest challenges. As where and how we live carves out our sense of belonging, sorting...
If our articles have lit the fire for greening in you, we suggest getting even more information and details here! Find and collect all the needed knowledge, information, and guidance in this list of tools and guides for greening.
We know, we know... there is...
Implementing spatial changes that benefit citizens isn’t a straightforward process. In many cities, there’s not a process for it at all! Or is there? The case of Muscat, in Oman, shows us that it may be disadvantaged citizens rather than authorities who possess the...
Energy Team and community leaders hosting a gamified training session in Dromiskin. Image Credit: Energy Team
Big cities can learn a lot from smaller communities. Dunleer, a town in the northeast of the Republic of Ireland, has managed what many larger places have struggled to...
Tragedy can break us, or it can spark a fire of determination, resilience, and growth. This statement is as true for the Colombian city of Medellín as it is for the person who made it happen. Chief Resilience Officer Santiago Uribe Rocha tells us...
We claim a lot of land from the natural world to build ourselves places to live. What if we could construct in a way that works for humans and habitats? That’s the question which led Dr Gemma Jerome to develop the Building with Nature...
If the design of urban spaces does not make us feel safe, it limits how we move around, engage with, and enjoy the city. This impacts women disproportionately, and even spaces that seem welcoming in daylight can feel menacing after dark. We investigate the...
This article was written by and for the C40 Knowledge Hub, delivering cutting-edge insights and practical resources from leading climate cities directed at those working in city government. It was originally published here in August 2021. We’re featuring the article with kind permission by the C40 Knowledge Hub.
Legal...
With so many interest groups all wanting representation in the decisions that form our living cities, it isn’t easy getting it right. There will be those who are unrepresented, those involved but who do not feel heard, and others still who always get their...
Finance is an unavoidable puzzle piece in making cities sustainable. With scaling a priority, leveraging enough money is a challenge. Too often, if forces us to focus on a single objective, when what we need for meeting climate targets is holistic change. Rufus Grantham...
“If you are considering cycling as an option for your city, please consider this group,” says Alex Baum, co-author of the ‘Cycling Cities for Infants, Toddlers, and Caregivers’ Report. He told us why it is important to include this neglected group and how to...
A grand single-family house in the suburbs with a nice garden and a big garage at the end of a long driveway where two cars easily fit – that is an aspiration of many North Americans, spawned by the concept of the American Dream....
A toxic mix of bad habits and infrastructure that prevents change is holding sustainability back. This is as true for retrofitting as anything. Community sociologist Doctor Jeni Cross has dedicated 20 years to researching the relationship between human behaviour and the systems that surround...
Politics is one realm that can open a lot of doors to sustainability in our cities. But whether it’s because they are disillusioned, disinterested, or feel excluded, many people do not use their voices to influence local decision-making. Eva de Bruijn, leader of the...