Consider the nation of Kiribati, an island nation with 110,000 residents spread out over 33 atolls and reef islands in the South Pacific. Within a century, the country could be underwater or “deterritorialized”. In response, Kiribati’s former President authorized in 2014 the purchase of 20 square kilometers of land on Fiji in case of a future mass relocation of Kiribati’s … [Read more...] about Why Coastal Cities Need a Blue Urban Agenda
Caribbean Housing Is Expensive and Scarce. Here’s How to Change That
The Caribbean is caught in a housing trap. The cost of living is high: building a house in Kingston is three times more expensive than in a typical Latin American city. This has left ten million people in The Bahamas, Barbados, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, St. Lucia, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago without a decent roof over their heads. Building adequate … [Read more...] about Caribbean Housing Is Expensive and Scarce. Here’s How to Change That
Designing for darkness: three challenges to designing nocturnal landscapes
Español | English Last weekend I attended a fascinating conference organized by the Graduate School of Design and the Center for Middle Eastern Studies at Harvard University, titled “After Dark: Nocturnal Landscapes and Public Spaces in the Arabian Peninsula.” This was a unique opportunity to meet architects, designers, artists, and academics who share my passion for the night … [Read more...] about Designing for darkness: three challenges to designing nocturnal landscapes
Hope for Cities of the Future: Investing in the Young Generation
As scholars, policymakers, and practitioners work towards creating a sustainable urban future, one thing is becoming increasingly clear: the future of cities lies in the hands of the next generation, who has both the most to gain and the most to lose from the way urban development unfolds. Should cities fail to plan for the effects of climate change, should unplanned urban … [Read more...] about Hope for Cities of the Future: Investing in the Young Generation
Cities and Foreign Policy: The Opportunities Behind International Organizations, Networks and Forums
Most cities and states worldwide, regardless of the continent of origin, hold some experience in international relations. In hundreds of cases, these experiences have crystalized and are pursued in a more formal and institutionalized fashion. Cities conduct their own foreign policies to advance their own local interests, as discussed in a recent article published by the World … [Read more...] about Cities and Foreign Policy: The Opportunities Behind International Organizations, Networks and Forums