Climate Cities
All Stories
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1904 song encourages you to make out in the newly built subway
This scandalicious, vaguely suggestive song called the subway "a new lover's lane."
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Cities make spiders gigantic
According to a new study, spiders living in cities are notably bigger than those living out in the bush.
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If we build it right, they (emissions) will come (down): ‘Carbon Zero,’ chapter 4
The key to carbon zero cities lies not in retrofitting old structures, says Alex Steffen, but in optimizing the tons of new building we'll do over the next 20 years.
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Lesson learned: Don’t build public transit on quicksand
Building a metro station under a busy road and on top of an underground quicksand pit turns out to be a bad idea.
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Move a little closer, please: ‘Carbon Zero,’ chapter 3
The key to climate salvation lies in making our cities denser. Alex Steffen explains why smart "walksheds" pave the way to lower emissions.
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People-focused places and fairer cities: ‘Carbon Zero,’ sidebar 2
People-focused density provides a disproportionate benefit for low-income people. In fact, good city design can be part of what gets people out of poverty. Compact development means increasing the supply of housing. Even if the new homes are being built in an area not affordable to those with low incomes, the increased housing supply helps […]
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Swedish town is installing antidepressant bus stops
Umea, Sweden installed anti-bum-out UV lights at its bus stops. They are hoping to decrease depression caused by a long, dark winter.
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Why clean energy isn’t enough: ‘Carbon Zero,’ chapter 2
To "zero out" our emissions with clean energy, we'd have to replace all the dirty sources we use now -- and do it all over again in 40 years. In chapter 2 of "Carbon Zero," Alex Steffen explains why we need to rethink our whole relationship with energy.
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What Washington, D.C., needs now: A few good skyscrapers
A century-old law has turned the nation’s capital into a city of low-rises. It’s high time we broke through that glass ceiling.
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Sea levels are rising 60 percent faster than expected
Incidentally, I'm selling lovely beachfront property in West Virginia.
