Environment
Hotter Cities Could Be Deadly for Americans Without Shelter
Rising temperatures caused by climate change will be especially dangerous for people who live exposed to the elements.
When There’s a Snake in the House, These Guys Can Help
In the Indian city of Madurai, a volunteer group deals humanely with emergencies of the reptile kind.
Sleepy in Songdo, Korea’s Smartest City
The hardest thing about living in an eco-friendly master-planned utopia? Meeting your neighbors.
More Than 300,000 U.S. Homes Could Flood Regularly by 2045
A new study finds that at the high end of predicted sea-level rise, many thousands of homes in the U.S. could flood 26 times a year.
‘Aquamation’ Is Gaining Acceptance in America
Some people see water cremation as a greener—and gentler—way to treat bodies after death, but only 15 states allow it for human remains.
Why Bogotá Should Worry About Its Water
Colombia’s capital depends on a unique ecosystem called páramos for its water supply. Environmental advocates warn that the páramos are now threatened by climate change and other factors.
Dead Golf Courses Are the New NIMBY Battlefield
As the sport’s popularity wanes, vast amounts of underutilized land will open up. Can it be developed?
The Case for ‘Sanctuary Cities’ for Endangered Species
Non-native animals and plants often arrive in cities by happenstance and carve out ecological niches for themselves. But if cities were more deliberate about biodiversity, they’d take in well-suited species that are struggling elsewhere.
Stressed Out? Go Outside, and Go Alone
Spending time by yourself in nature is good for mental health, and can make you a better leader.
Is LEED Tough Enough for the Climate-Change Era?
Twenty years ago, the U.S. Green Building Council piloted its LEED certification, which has reshaped architecture and real estate. But how much does it dent buildings’ energy use?
This Is the Last Straw
It’s time to crack down on single-use plastic drinking utensils, the world’s most disposable product.
Thousands of Shoes Honor Hurricane Maria’s Victims in San Juan
In San Juan, an improvised memorial has become the focal point for grief and anger after the publication of a new, much higher estimated death count.
One Year After Trump Left the Paris Agreement, Who’s Still In?
City and state coalitions just announced they’ll be setting their own climate goals.
When the Water Came for Me
In just a few hours on Sunday afternoon, the residents of Ellicott City, Maryland, became climate refugees. Here’s what that feels like.
In Search of the ‘Just City’
Toni Griffin, one of the leading black women in architecture and design, is leading her students at Harvard in envisioning and designing the "just city." And it looks different in Boston than it does in Rotterdam.
America Isn’t Ready for Disability Disaster Response This Hurricane Season
FEMA and the Red Cross talk a good game, but the disability community is skeptical.
Tbilisi Comes Up for Air
Grassroots environmental activism is on the rise in the capital of post-Soviet Georgia.
America Is Flooding, and It’s Our Fault
Floods like the one that devastated Ellicott City on Sunday are not “natural” disasters outside our control—we can reduce the impacts and risks if we resolve to.
The Yellow School Bus Needs a Green Makeover
The diesel-sucking dinosaurs from your childhood are due for an update.
Could Congestion Charges Work in Latin America?
Something must be done as car sales increase and cities grow. A new study envisions a plan for Mexico City, Bogotá, and Santiago, but says improving public transport is essential.
Underestimated Flood Risk Could Crash the American Housing Market
On the coastlines of America, many home buyers are ignoring the new realities of storms and floods—and, in too many cases, the government isn't helping.