As cities around the world grow and develop, the importance of green spaces cannot be overstated. Parks, gardens, and other green areas provide an escape from the urban hustle and bustle and play a crucial role in promoting sustainable development. Here, I explore the benefits of green spaces in urban areas and how they can […]

As someone who lives in the EU, I’m sure you’ve noticed how much construction is happening in your area. Everywhere you look, new buildings, bridges, and roads are being built, and they all have one thing in common: they’re made of concrete.  Although we welcome growth and expansion, did you know that concrete is not […]

You know it, I know it, and around 74% of adults around the world know it: climate change is one of the greatest challenges of our time. At the forefront of the efforts to combat climate change is the European Union. However, stakeholders agree that – for the change to be truly effective – it […]

As a senior urban development specialist with two decades of professional experience, I have seen firsthand the importance of ethical standards in local governance. Ethical conduct in local government is vital to building public trust, ensuring accountability, and fostering sustainable and inclusive development. Here, I discuss the significance of ethical standards in local governance and […]

This week, the WAITRO Summit is in full swing in South Africa, where researchers, innovators, stakeholders, investors and funders will meet to discuss green-focused developments with a global  impact. WAITRO, founded under the auspices of the United Nations in 1970, aims to foster innovation and sustainable development globally, with a specific focus of facilitating collaboration […]

From Concrete Jungle to Green Oasis Cities are often associated with a bustling atmosphere, the hum of traffic, and a concrete jungle of towering buildings. But Spain’s vibrant city Barcelona is flipping this concept on its head. In an innovative initiative that started in 2013, the city has been transforming its urban spaces to create […]

The EU must address its economic woes on the continent, as 93%  of Europeans are reported to be worried about the rising cost of living. Half of the EU’s population stated that their standard of living has been reduced as a result of a world in crisis. These statistics follow a European Parliament Eurobarometer survey*, […]

With the fight against climate change at its core, many European (and beyond!) cities are geared towards embracing green spaces, sustainability and renewable energy. These strides towards green-focused cities aren’t without urgency: the Paris Agreement, for example, aims to strengthen the worldwide response to climate change by keeping the rise in global temperatures below two […]

Nestled in the snowy town of Davos, Switzerland, thousands of leaders from across the world gathered for the World Economic Forum (WEF) this January, under the banner  “Cooperation Under A Fragmented World”. This annual event brings together business leaders, politicians, academics and other experts from over 130 countries around the world to discuss and address […]

In a bid to promote reverse fashion, sporting goods giant Decathlon reversed its name to “Nohltaced” (pronounced Noltakket) at three of its Belgian stores. “Bring in your sports equipment that you no longer use, and we will buy it back from you, [repair it], and make someone else happy with it,” the store said in a […]

One of the most powerful supercomputers in the world – and definitely Europe’s largest – was recently unveiled in Bologna, Italy. Powerful machine Leonardo (which aptly means “lion-hearted”, and is also the name of the famous Italian artist, engineer and scientist Leonardo da Vinci) is a €120 million system that promises to utilise artificial intelligence […]

So with these immense benefits at hand, how come this system isn’t being widely replicated all over the world? The first reason is the many challenges posed by this approach. Some reports point at one thing that Singapore’s system fails to do, and that is actually to reduce the amount of waste being produced in […]

Smart Cities have become a fully functional part of today’s world, setting a template for the ongoing urbanisation processes throughout the globe, as well as for the reimagining of old models. As the world continues to adapt to the post-pandemic era, digitalisation is helping to solve a lot of old administrative issues around cities, while […]

Citizen inclusion is one of the key foundations in the development of Smart Cities. It has the power to streamline the adoption of different tactics and adapt to both implemented changes and potential future challenges. Getting your community on board along any step in the life of a smart city is crucial, as they’re ultimately […]