Sustainable Urbanization
Urban Light Pollution: How Cities Can Balance Safety, Nature and the Night Sky
Artificial light at night supports urban safety and mobility, yet excessive and poorly designed lighting affects ecosystems, sleep, energy use and the visibility of the night sky. This article examines the pace of light pollution, its consequences in Europe, and three possible approaches to designing safer and more sustainable urban lighting.
Read MoreUrban Light Pollution: How Cities Can Balance Safety, Nature and the Night SkyFrom Granada to Every European City: iQuantum, Built to Test and Scale Urban Innovation Across Europe
Granada is positioning artificial intelligence as a key tool for urban innovation, with iQuantum providing a real-world environment to test, demonstrate and scale AI solutions for cities. In this partner interview, Vito Episcopo, Deputy Mayor of Granada, discusses the city’s AI strategy, its innovation ecosystem, and opportunities for collaboration between European cities.
Read MoreFrom Granada to Every European City: iQuantum, Built to Test and Scale Urban Innovation Across EuropeLow River Levels and Urban Resilience: Europe’s Hidden Infrastructure Risk
Europe’s record-low river levels in the summer of 2026 disrupted far more than navigation, affecting power generation, transport, tourism and industrial supply chains. The events reveal why rivers should be viewed not only as natural landscapes but also as critical infrastructure essential to urban resilience.
Read MoreLow River Levels and Urban Resilience: Europe’s Hidden Infrastructure RiskCycling 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 Events