As the urgency of climate action rises, cities around the world are exploring paths to sustainability. A comparative study of Kitakyushu (Japan) and Tianjin Eco-City (China) sheds light on two distinct approaches to building “eco-cities” in East Asia. Kitakyushu, once known for its industrial pollution, has transformed into a model eco-city through gradual redevelopment and […]
Urban green spaces are often overlooked when discussing climate change solutions, yet they play a crucial role in carbon storage. A fascinating study from Leicester, UK, demonstrates just how much carbon a city’s trees and vegetation can lock away, offering new insights for urban sustainability. Researchers conducted field surveys at 520 sample sites across the […]
As sustainable construction gains momentum, embodied carbon—the emissions associated with the extraction, production, transport, and maintenance of building materials—has become a critical focus. One excellent example of how to systematically calculate embodied carbon is the ZEB Living Lab in Norway, a nearly zero-emission building designed for research and demonstration purposes. In this study, the lifecycle […]
As the climate crisis intensifies, the need for truly sustainable architecture has never been greater. But designing sustainable buildings is not simply about adding solar panels or choosing eco-friendly materials. It demands a fundamental shift in how we think, collaborate, and act across disciplines. Sustainable design must integrate environmental science, urban planning, sociology, material engineering, […]
During a trip to the Netherlands this April, I was deeply impressed by the country’s efficient transport network and the urban balance in Amsterdam. As I explored more about its urban planning, I stumbled upon Almere, a new city just 30 km east of Amsterdam, built on reclaimed land in the 1970s. Among its various […]
C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group is a group of 96 cities that represents one twelfth of the world’s population and one quarter of the global economy. Created and led by cities in 2005, C40 is focused on fighting the climate crisis and driving urban action that reduces greenhouse gas emissions and climate risks, while increasing the health, wellbeing […]
Hammarby Sjöstad in Stockholm has been internationally praised as a flagship model for sustainable urban development. However, behind its glossy image lies a complex reality: the district failed to meet its ambitious energy efficiency target of 60 kWh/m²/year. Why? A key reason lies in what scholar Arian Mahzouni calls “institutional lock-ins.” These are deeply embedded […]
Hammarby Sjöstad is a sustainable urban development located in the southern part of central Stockholm, Sweden, near the Hammarby Lake (Hammarby Sjö). The area was originally an industrial and harbor zone, with factories, warehouses, and shipyards. In the early 1990s, Stockholm city officials decided to transform it into a modern residential and mixed-use neighborhood. Hammarby […]
Xiong’an New Area, often referred to as the “Thousand-Year Plan,” was established in 2017 with a long-term vision to alleviate Beijing’s non-capital functions and promote sustainable urban development. Located in Hebei Province, it is about 100 kilometers southwest of Beijing. Xiong’an New Area is situated in a basin, which makes it prone to flood risks. […]
