Sustainable Urbanization

Libraries and Sustainable Development: How Libraries Support the Sustainable Development Goals

Modern public library interior illustrating how libraries support sustainable development through inclusive learning spaces, community engagement, and equal access to knowledge.
Modern libraries have evolved far beyond their traditional role, becoming essential institutions that support education, digital inclusion, AI literacy, and community resilience. This article explores how libraries contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals through lifelong learning, equitable access to information, and partnerships that strengthen sustainable development.
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The tree in the machine: Why urban heat resilience planning still can’t see the tree

urban heat resilience
Urban heat resilience strategies increasingly rely on digital tools, heat mapping, and building performance models, yet trees remain largely excluded from the systems used to guide investment and regulatory decisions. This article examines why urban forests continue to be treated as contextual elements rather than critical cooling infrastructure, despite extensive evidence of their thermal, social, and public health benefits. It argues that integrating tree canopy data into urban heat resilience planning is essential for equitable and effective climate adaptation.
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Why Smart City Projects Fail: Lessons from an 80-Million-Yuan Digital Infrastructure Project

Underused smart city operations center with inactive monitoring screens and empty workstations, illustrating the challenges of digital infrastructure projects and smart city governance.
A county-level smart city project in China saw six of its seven sub-projects become idle despite significant public investment. This case study explores how planning gaps, fragmented data systems and governance challenges can undermine even the most ambitious digital infrastructure projects.
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Beyond Green Claims (Part II): Governance, Legacy and Trust in Sustainable Sports Events

Governance and operational planning for sustainable sports events during the preparation of a major international competition.
Sustainable sports events depend on far more than emissions reductions and operational efficiency. Drawing on international experience, Pierluigi Zacheo examines the role of governance, local partnerships, legacy, and accountability in turning sustainability ambitions into credible long-term results.
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Is the Earth Getting Hotter? New WMO Forecast Charts a Path to Unprecedented Global Warmth

Is the Earth Getting Hotter?
This comprehensive analytical review breaks down the newly released WMO Global Annual to Decadal Climate Update for 2026–2035. Presenting data from 13 leading global prediction centers, it details a critical 91% probability of temporarily breaching the 1.5°C warming threshold within the next five years. Ultimately, the analysis translates these accelerating macroeconomic climate risks into actionable strategic adaptations required by modern urban planners and renewable energy engineers.
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Beyond Green Claims (Part I): The Operational Reality of Sustainable Sport Events

Operational preparations behind sustainable sports events, including logistics infrastructure and event operations supporting major international competitions.
Major sporting events increasingly promote ambitious sustainability goals, yet their greatest environmental impacts often remain hidden within complex operational systems. Drawing on examples from Formula E, Formula 1, the Olympic Games, and other international events, Pierluigi Zacheo explores why transport, logistics, procurement, governance, and planning decisions ultimately determine whether sustainability commitments translate into real-world results.
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Vehicle-Road-Cloud Integration: Can Smart Infrastructure Prevent Traffic Accidents?

Smart urban intersection illustrating Vehicle-Road-Cloud Integration through connected vehicles, intelligent road infrastructure and real-time traffic management.
Can technology help prevent traffic accidents before they happen? Drawing on the concept of Vehicle-Road-Cloud Integration, this article explores how connected vehicles, smart roads and cloud-based management systems could reshape the future of road safety and intelligent mobility.
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World Bicycle Day: Why Urban Cycling Infrastructure Is Becoming Essential for Modern Cities

world-bicycle-day-why-urban-cycling-infrastructure-is-becoming-essential-for-modern-cities
World Bicycle Day is more than a celebration of cycling; it is a reminder of the growing importance of urban cycling infrastructure in shaping sustainable cities. From Paris and London to the Western Balkans, investments in protected bike lanes are improving air quality, reducing congestion, and making active mobility a realistic transport option.
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Beyond the 15-Minute City: An Interview with Carlos Moreno on Time, Proximity and Future Cities

the author of 15-minute city concept Carlos Moreno
In this interview, Carlos Moreno reflects on how the idea of the 15-minute city has evolved into a broader discussion about time, proximity, resilience, and quality of urban life. He also discusses social fragmentation, urban regeneration, and why future cities must become more human-centred rather than simply more “smart.”
Read MoreBeyond the 15-Minute City: An Interview with Carlos Moreno on Time, Proximity and Future Cities
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