In many countries, you will often hear people start a conversation by talking about the weather. The typical explanation for this is that weather is such a neutral topic that it is relatively safe to use it as an opening line. But, to what extent is this changing? Climate change is a variation in the “average weather,” which scientifically refers to the statistical … [Read more...] about Two ways that cities can adapt to climate change
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Urban Sustainability in the Caribbean: the case of Nassau, Bahamas
Sustainable urbanization in the Caribbean is a real and present development challenge. Caribbean cities are often small but not compact. They have immeasurable natural assets but are exposed to severe climate events. They have quality basic education, but struggle to prevent qualified professionals from migrating abroad. Grand hotels and beach resorts are juxtaposed by … [Read more...] about Urban Sustainability in the Caribbean: the case of Nassau, Bahamas
An Odd Couple: Cultural Heritage and Urban Sustainability
In most cities, there is a strong tension between the preservation of cultural heritage – in its multiple forms – and the pressure to renovate neglected city areas for the sake of economic development, especially for tourism. Nowadays, these tensions often appear as dichotomies, where the past confronts the future and history is in opposition to modernity. This is how the “odd … [Read more...] about An Odd Couple: Cultural Heritage and Urban Sustainability
IDB Cities Lab: multiplying urban innovation in Latin America and the Caribbean
With more than 80% of its population living in cities, Latin America is one of the most urbanized regions in the world. Never before have so many people lived in urban centers and never before has it been so necessary to improve the way we understand, plan and manage cities as collective human projects. The increased scale and number of cities bring a whole array of new … [Read more...] about IDB Cities Lab: multiplying urban innovation in Latin America and the Caribbean
Metropolitan coordination and governance for a sustainable urban development
Pick us! We’ll do anything you want. That’s one way of paraphrasing Maryland’s Transportation Secretary, Pete Rahn’s recent blank check offer to lure the retail giant, Amazon. Maryland’s Montgomery County, Northern Virginia, and Washington D.C., are thrilled to have made it through to Amazon’s reality-show-esque short listing of 20 possible locations for its second headquarters … [Read more...] about Metropolitan coordination and governance for a sustainable urban development