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
Category: Sustainability
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
Cities in the Dark
“When we look up at night and view the stars, everything we see is shining because of distant nuclear fusion.” – Carl Sagan in Cosmos: A Personal Voyage, 1980 It is Friday and soon weekend, so here is a post on a bit lighter touch than we usually publish on this blog, or maybe not… Continue reading Cities in the Dark
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
One of Carl Sagan’s most relevant messages for humanity
I am preparing for a speech about innovation which I will give at the Humans in Space conference in Kielce in Poland on Friday, and I came across the message below by Carl Sagan. I found it to be so touching that I decided to share it here. Carl Sagan on our challenges and future