Category: Sustainability

From the Chariots of Ben Hur to Automatic-Driving Cars

One of the classic Christmas holiday movies is Ben Hur (1960). I remember I watched it with my father around Christmas-time one year in the 1970s. The movie is an historical epic drama which  portrays a wealthy Palestinian Jewish merchant who clashes with the Romans at the time of Christ. Ben Hur´s actions sends him… Continue reading From the Chariots of Ben Hur to Automatic-Driving Cars

Joan Clos Message on how to Build Better Cities

Last week, McKinsey and UN Habitat published an essay by Joan Clos, on how we can build better cities. In the essay he points out that in the economic history of humanity, urbanization has always been an accelerator of growth and development, and we are now in the process of massive urbanization. Already 55 per… Continue reading Joan Clos Message on how to Build Better Cities

Freiburg im Breisgau. Sustainable living model

Freiburg im Breisgau. Sustainable living model The City of Freiburg is often called Germany’s "ecological capital" and has been recognized internationally as one of the world’s most livable, sustainable and child-friendly cities. As a national example of sustainable urban planning, ideas developed in Freiburg have been used in countries around the world. What makes this… Continue reading Freiburg im Breisgau. Sustainable living model

The Glass House by the Sea

Each of us is carving a stone, erecting a column, or cutting a piece of stained glass in the construction of something much bigger than ourselves. – Adrienne Louise Clarkson, Canadian Stateswoman Hammarby sjöstad (Hammarby Lake City) is an urban development directly south of Stockholm’s South Island. It is no doubt the most referenced and… Continue reading The Glass House by the Sea

Financing City Sustainable Solutions in Energy Efficiency

Sustainable, thriving cities have strong economic growth, and offer great places to live and work. Smart housing and transportation choices, investing in solutions like energy and building efficiency, land use patterns that require fewer car trips can significantly improve health, quality of life and economic opportunities in cities. The Better Growth, Better Climate report finds… Continue reading Financing City Sustainable Solutions in Energy Efficiency

Global Impact of Climate Change

The World Bank has published a report on climate change, titled “Turn Down the Heat: Confronting the New Climate Normal”, which is available at this link. New scientific analysis examines the likely impacts of present day (0.8°C), 2°C and 4°C warming above pre-industrial temperatures on agricultural production, water resources, ecosystem services, and coastal vulnerability for… Continue reading Global Impact of Climate Change

12 cities apply for European Green Capital Award 2017

The smallest patch of green to arrest the monotony of asphalt and concrete is as important to the value of real estate as streets, sewers and convenient shopping – James Felt  (20th Century New York Real Estate Developer and Environmental Champion) European Green Capital City Award Today more than two thirds of Europeans live in… Continue reading 12 cities apply for European Green Capital Award 2017

Manifesto for Energy Efficiency in Buildings

This morning I attended a roundtable discussion in Warsaw, Poland, on climate change and how energy efficient buildings can impact carbon emissions. Surprisingly, buildings consume approximately 40% of all energy produced globally – more than transport or industry. Energy used in buildings is a major contribution to climate change, hence it must be addressed. The… Continue reading Manifesto for Energy Efficiency in Buildings