The World Happiness Report 2025, released on March 20, 2025, to mark the United Nations International Day of Happiness, offers a detailed look at global happiness levels and the factors driving them. Published by the Wellbeing Research Centre at the University of Oxford, in partnership with Gallup, the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, and an […]
A cutting-edge AI tool unveiled in March 2025 is pulling back the curtain on a hidden urban divide: access to green spaces. Developed by researchers featured in ScienceDaily, this system maps city parks, trees, and gardens with pinpoint precision, exposing a tale of two cities within places like New York, Mumbai, and beyond. Affluent neighborhoods […]
Google is throwing its tech muscle behind urban sustainability with the launch of its “Google for Startups Accelerator: AI for Nature and Climate” in March 2025. This global program is hunting for innovators who wield artificial intelligence to tackle pressing urban woes—think smarter flood defenses, energy-saving grids, or tools to protect shrinking city biodiversity. With […]
Patrick Geddes (1854–1932), a pioneering urban planner and sociologist, profoundly influenced the way cities are conceptualized and designed. His contributions laid the groundwork for modern urban planning by emphasizing a holistic and ecological approach to urban development. Unlike many of his contemporaries, Geddes viewed cities as dynamic, living organisms, advocating for planning strategies that were […]
As urbanization continues to refine the landscapes in which we live, the role of urban design in public health, particularly regarding physical activity, becomes increasingly prominent. With over half of the global population residing in urban areas, the design of these environments heavily influences their health outcomes. In 2022, statistics revealed that 1 in 8 […]
In the quest for a sustainable planet, the integration of environmental consciousness with informed education and communication strategies is important. Human behaviour towards the environment must undergo a transformative shift, rooted in awareness and understanding of ecological systems. This article explores how promoting environmental consciousness through education and communication can guide human behaviour towards sustainability. […]
Citizen Science and Its Importance in Urban Development Citizen science refers to the active participation of the general public in scientific research, data collection, and problem-solving (Bonney et al., 2009). It enables individuals, regardless of their scientific background, to contribute valuable insights that help address pressing societal and environmental challenges. In the context of urban […]
Adelaide, the capital city of South Australia, is on the cusp of a significant urban transformation, with visionary developers, architects, and planners collaborating to reshape its landscape over the next three decades. The city’s future blueprint emphasizes sustainability, vertical expansion, and community-centric spaces, aiming to enhance livability and economic vitality. Jamie McClurg of Commercial & […]
In the realm of urban planning, the “15-minute city” concept has gained significant attention, advocating for all essential services to be within a 15-minute reach for residents. Copenhagen’s Nordhavn district has taken this idea further, pioneering the “five-minute city” model, where daily necessities are accessible within just a five-minute walk. This innovative approach not only […]
As the world grapples with the growing challenges of waste management, innovative solutions are emerging to not only address the environmental issues but also to turn waste into valuable resources. The concept of “Waste to Wealth” is gaining momentum, and across the globe, businesses and governments are investing in groundbreaking technologies to make this vision […]