Environment
In a Town Shaped by Water, the River Is Winning
Storms supercharged by climate change pose a dire threat to river towns. After two catastrophic floods, tiny Ellicott City faces a critical decision: Rebuild, or retreat?
Carefully, Japan Reconsiders the Trash Can
The near-absence of public garbage bins in cities like Tokyo is both a security measure and a reflection of a cultural aversion to littering.
The Unintended Consequences of Green ‘Nudges’
When participants in a study had the option of approving a behavioral “nudge” to clean energy use, their support for a carbon tax dropped.
Paris Will Create the City's Largest Gardens Around the Eiffel Tower
The most famous space in the city is set to get a pedestrian-friendly redesign that will create the city’s largest garden by 2024.
How the Ancient Maya Adapted to Climate Change
Instead of focusing on the civilization’s final stages, looking at Mayan adaptations shows how their communities survived for as long as they did.
Flying Cars Are Realer, Cheaper, Greener Than You Think
They might even be greener than electric cars.
America’s First Greenbelt May Be in Jeopardy
Adopted in the 1950s to protect the city’s iconic horse farms, the urban growth boundary of Lexington, Kentucky, no longer seems unassailable.
Disney World's Literal Nuclear Option, Explained
Florida politicians may expunge an old law that gives Disney World the right to build its own nuclear plant. But they probably don’t need to bother.
Tesla’s Busted Solar Panels on Vieques Are a Cautionary Tale
After Hurricane María plunged the island off Puerto Rico into darkness, Tesla’s arrival heralded the dawn of a microgrid future. But it wasn’t that easy.
New Ideas for Paris's Outdated Infrastructure
After a criticized first installment, the city's design competition has a wider talent pool and a fairer distribution of commissions to redesign urban sites.
Designing the Butterfly-Friendly City
With the population of the distinctive species in decline, cities around the U.S. are trying to add monarch-friendly spaces.
Instead of a Border Wall, Why Not a ‘Clean Energy Corridor’?
Building solar panels and wind turbines along the U.S.-Mexico border, say scientists, could unite demands for a Green New Deal and stronger border security.
Which Cities Have Concrete Strategies For Environmental Justice?
Historically, local zoning codes and land-use laws have enforced segregation. Now, cities are using the same tools to enact environmental justice.
The Urban Planning Vision of Leonardo da Vinci
Following a typical Renaissance trend, he began to work out an “ideal city” project, which, due to its excessive costs, would remain unfulfilled.
Why Indonesia Wants to Move Its Capital Out of Jakarta
Jakarta has 10 million people and is sinking faster than any other city in the world. But there are other factors involved in its relocation plan.
Can New York Make Buildings Super-Efficient, Fast?
By 2030, the city’s large buildings must cut their carbon emissions by 40 percent. Here’s how that can happen.
In Car-Choked Brussels, the Pedestrians Are Winning
The Belgian capital is one of the most congested in Europe. But an ambitious suite of street makeovers is pushing traffic outside the central city.
What If Air Conditioning Could Help Stop Climate Change Instead of Causing It?
Using technology currently in development, AC units in skyscrapers and homes could get turned into machines that pull carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere.
The Town That Extended ‘Smart Growth’ to Its Water
As Western states grapple with drought, Westminster, Colorado, has become a model for its integration of water data into the planning process.
How Linda Garcia Stopped an Oil Terminal From Coming to Her Neighborhood
The Vancouver, Washington, activist is among the six 2019 winners of the Goldman Environmental Prize.
The Enduring Beauty of the Hudson River
Even in the 1800s, painters were meditating on its natural beauty in the face of human exploitation.