Quality Lifestyle
Air Pollution Raises Risk of Dementia: Why Clean Air Is a Public Health Imperative
Growing evidence shows that long-term exposure to polluted air significantly increases the risk of dementia and other neurodegenerative diseases. This article highlights findings from a landmark global meta-analysis involving millions of participants, demonstrating clear links between air pollution and cognitive decline. The results underscore why improving air quality must be treated as an urgent public-health and urban-planning priority.
Read MoreAir Pollution Raises Risk of Dementia: Why Clean Air Is a Public Health ImperativeSustainable Food Systems: Feeding the Planet Without Destroying It
Sustainable food systems are essential to feeding a growing global population while reducing environmental harm. This article examines the ecological impacts of industrial agriculture and outlines emerging alternatives, from regenerative farming and urban food production to cultivated meat technologies. By rethinking how food is grown, distributed, and consumed, cities and communities can build more resilient, equitable, and climate-conscious food futures.
Read MoreSustainable Food Systems: Feeding the Planet Without Destroying ItTrees-as-Infrastructure: How Urban Nature Builds Cool, Green and Resilient Cities
Trees-as-Infrastructure is redefining how cities integrate nature into urban planning. By treating trees as critical infrastructure, this approach enhances climate resilience, reduces heat and flooding risks, and improves community well-being. The methodology, tested in Stuttgart, offers a scalable model for greener, healthier, and more sustainable cities worldwide.
Read MoreTrees-as-Infrastructure: How Urban Nature Builds Cool, Green and Resilient CitiesEdible City: How Urban Gardens Transform Cities Beyond Food
Edible cities integrate urban gardens into public spaces, delivering multiple social, ecological, and economic benefits beyond food production. From Andernach to Belgrade, European cities are piloting edible landscapes as infrastructure for climate adaptation, community building, and environmental education. Research shows that inclusive, co-designed programs yield stronger social outcomes than purely technological approaches. Practical guidance for planners emphasizes mapping, governance, skills pipelines, and a mosaic of micro-sites to maximize impact.
Read MoreEdible City: How Urban Gardens Transform Cities Beyond FoodThe Rise of City Harbor Swimming in Modern Cities
Harbor baths turn urban waterways into vibrant, accessible public spaces. City harbor swimming not only provides recreation but helps cities cope with rising heat and climate stress. Northern European cities like Copenhagen have shown how design, water quality management, and civic engagement can reclaim polluted harbors. Today, these spaces combine wellness, sustainability, and social inclusivity, redefining the city’s relationship with its water.
Read MoreThe Rise of City Harbor Swimming in Modern CitiesBelgrade’s Green Cover in Crisis: How a June Heatwave Stripped the City’s Vegetation
In June 2025, Belgrade experienced record-breaking heat, leading to a sharp decline in urban vegetation. Using NDVI data from Landsat satellites, this article analyzes the spatial and sectoral impacts of the heatwave on Belgrade’s green cover. Parks, residential zones, and industrial areas all showed significant vegetation stress, revealing disparities in resilience. The findings frame vegetation as critical infrastructure—essential for cooling, health, and economic stability—and call for urgent adaptation in urban planning amid escalating climate risks.
Read MoreBelgrade’s Green Cover in Crisis: How a June Heatwave Stripped the City’s VegetationAbove the Heat: Why Cities Need White Roofs Now
As global temperatures rise, cities need affordable ways to stay cool—white roofs offer one. Reflective coatings can lower indoor temperatures by up to 6 °C and reduce urban heat by 2 °C. Case studies from London to Delhi slums show clear benefits in comfort, energy savings, and emissions. These coatings are low-cost, easy to apply, and often community-led. Despite some trade-offs, white roofs are a powerful tool for cooler, healthier cities.
Read MoreAbove the Heat: Why Cities Need White Roofs NowUrban Heat Adaptation in Action: Cool Cities for All
The article explores how cities are fighting extreme heat with inclusive design, smart innovation, and climate justice to build cooler, healthier urban futures for all
Read MoreUrban Heat Adaptation in Action: Cool Cities for AllFrom Risk to Resilience: Urban Heat Adaptation in Action
As extreme heat becomes an escalating urban threat, cities worldwide are pioneering bold adaptation strategies to protect public health, infrastructure, and economic vitality. From green canopies and reflective rooftops to reimagined public spaces, From Risk to Resilience showcases climate-smart planning are transforming heat-vulnerable cities into hubs of resilience.
Read MoreFrom Risk to Resilience: Urban Heat Adaptation in ActionSmart Tools for Safer Streets: How Women Navigate Cities with Confidence
In cities worldwide, safety isn’t a given – especially for women. Every day, travel can carry hidden risks: a shortcut home might feel like a thriller scene, and a stranger’s footsteps might echo too loudly. But fear shouldn’t be part…