Local Energy Security in Central and Eastern Europe: The Urban Energy Shift

Local Energy Security
This article explores how Local Energy Security is reshaping energy systems in Central and Eastern Europe. It highlights the growing role of cities in driving renewable energy adoption, improving resilience, and navigating governance constraints. Case studies from Warsaw, Prague, and Ljubljana illustrate both progress and structural challenges.
Read MoreLocal Energy Security in Central and Eastern Europe: The Urban Energy Shift

Are Smart Cities Smart Enough? Beyond the Dashboard

smart-cities-smart-enough
This article examines whether current smart city models are sufficient to address the complex challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss, and urban resilience. While cities increasingly adopt data-driven technologies to optimise infrastructure and services, these systems often overlook ecological processes and living systems that are critical to long-term sustainability.
Read MoreAre Smart Cities Smart Enough? Beyond the Dashboard

The End of Ultra-Cheap Solar? What Rising Module Prices Mean for Urban Solar Energy

Urban solar modules
For more than a decade, falling solar panel prices fueled the rapid expansion of urban solar energy. Now costs may begin to rise. This article explores what a potential 20–30% increase in module prices could mean for cities, municipal budgets, and future energy planning.
Read MoreThe End of Ultra-Cheap Solar? What Rising Module Prices Mean for Urban Solar Energy

Gender-Responsive Urban Planning: Why Cities Must Work for Women

Gender-Responsive Urban Planning
The article considers how the infrastructure of the city often demonstrates gender disparities that may be present in the urban landscape. From gender-responsive facilities to transportation safety, many elements of urban space continue to serve men better than women. This article discusses the possibilities of gender-sensitive urban planning, taking into account examples from Vienna, Barcelona, and Seoul.
Read MoreGender-Responsive Urban Planning: Why Cities Must Work for Women

When Warmth Becomes a Trap: The Hidden Costs of Winter Urban Heat Islands

infrastructure problems in winter urban heat island
Winter urban heat islands are often seen as a seasonal advantage, making cities slightly warmer during cold months. However, growing evidence shows they can worsen air pollution, accelerate infrastructure damage, and create hidden public health risks. This article explores real-world case studies and explains why winter UHIs are becoming a critical issue for sustainable and smart cities.
Read MoreWhen Warmth Becomes a Trap: The Hidden Costs of Winter Urban Heat Islands

Mexico City 2026: Can Megacity Mobility Coordination Keep a World Cup City Moving?

Mexico city
Mexico City will face a rare stress test during the 2026 World Cup as matchday travel overlaps with daily commuter peaks. The article explores how megacity mobility coordination, not infrastructure expansion, will determine transport system resilience. Lessons from global events show why governance and demand management are becoming core urban mobility tools.
Read MoreMexico City 2026: Can Megacity Mobility Coordination Keep a World Cup City Moving?

Gender-Sensitive Snow Clearance: Why Winter Maintenance Is a Question of Urban Accessibility

Gender-sensitive snow clearance
The extraordinary snowfalls of early 2026 once again exposed structural weaknesses in urban winter maintenance systems. Gender-sensitive snow clearance, first implemented in Swedish cities, demonstrates how rethinking snow removal priorities can improve safety, equity, and cost efficiency in climate-stressed cities.
Read MoreGender-Sensitive Snow Clearance: Why Winter Maintenance Is a Question of Urban Accessibility
×