Sustainable Urbanization
Cycling Infrastructure in the Western Balkans: Why Streets Must Work for People, Not Cars
Cycling is increasingly recognised as one of the most effective investments in sustainable urban mobility, yet cities across the Western Balkans continue to struggle with car dependency and limited cycling infrastructure. In this interview, one of Serbia’s leading cycling advocates discusses the progress being made, the political and cultural barriers that remain, and why cycling infrastructure in the Western Balkans is essential for healthier, more liveable and more resilient cities.
Read MoreCycling Infrastructure in the Western Balkans: Why Streets Must Work for People, Not CarsWorld Cup Stadiums: Land, Power and the Urban Legacy Beyond Football
World Cup stadiums are more than sporting venues—they are long-term urban development projects that reshape land use, investment and governance. Their legacy depends not only on architecture or sustainability, but on how they transform the cities and communities around them.
Read MoreWorld Cup Stadiums: Land, Power and the Urban Legacy Beyond FootballUrban Tree Planting: A Community Solution for Healthier Cities
As cities become hotter and more densely populated, trees are no longer just an aesthetic feature but an essential part of urban infrastructure. This article explains why urban tree planting matters for public health, climate adaptation and community engagement, while introducing Serbia’s “Plant Your Shade” initiative.
Read MoreUrban Tree Planting: A Community Solution for Healthier CitiesLibraries and Sustainable Development: How Libraries Support the Sustainable Development Goals
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.
Read MoreLibraries and Sustainable Development: How Libraries Support the Sustainable Development GoalsThe tree in the machine: Why urban heat resilience planning still can’t see the tree
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.
Read MoreThe tree in the machine: Why urban heat resilience planning still can’t see the treeWhy Smart City Projects Fail: Lessons from an 80-Million-Yuan Digital Infrastructure Project
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.
Read MoreWhy Smart City Projects Fail: Lessons from an 80-Million-Yuan Digital Infrastructure ProjectBeyond Green Claims (Part II): Governance, Legacy and Trust in Sustainable Sports Events
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.
Read MoreBeyond Green Claims (Part II): Governance, Legacy and Trust in Sustainable Sports EventsIs the Earth Getting Hotter? New WMO Forecast Charts a Path to Unprecedented Global Warmth
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.
Read MoreIs the Earth Getting Hotter? New WMO Forecast Charts a Path to Unprecedented Global WarmthBeyond Green Claims (Part I): The Operational Reality of Sustainable Sport Events
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.
Read MoreBeyond Green Claims (Part I): The Operational Reality of Sustainable Sport EventsVehicle-Road-Cloud Integration: Can Smart Infrastructure Prevent Traffic Accidents?
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.
Read MoreVehicle-Road-Cloud Integration: Can Smart Infrastructure Prevent Traffic Accidents?