World cities turn their streets over to walkers and cyclists
A growing number of cities around the world are temporarily reallocating road space from cars to people on foot and on cycles to keep key workers moving and residents in coronavirus lockdown healthy and active while socially distancing. Photo: Jack Van Hel
Organizing under lockdown: online activism, local solidarity
The coronavirus pandemic is confronting us with unprecedented contradictions. The foundations of neoliberal capitalism are crumbling before our eyes, as governments in the EU are taking control over their economies in ways that would have been unthinkable just a few weeks ago. At the same…
The german activists and cities rising up against the car industry
In many German cities, efforts are underway to shift focus away from cars. These include a ban on old diesel cars and a push for more cycling infrastructure. In a country where carmakers sit at the throne of the economy and have a major political…
Showcase cities, agora cities. A vision of Barcelona built on solidarity
A globalised city like Barcelona can choose to either continue on its current path towards becoming a “showcase city” – one that is eager to please tourists and investors, or rebuild the city, basing it on the idea of an “agora” city – focussed on…
Cities after coronavirus: how Covid-19 could radically alter urban life
As the world continues to fight the rapid spread of coronavirus, confining many people to their homes and radically altering the way we move through, work in and think about our cities, some are wondering which of these adjustments will endure beyond the end of…
From productive to kind cities: new urban planning that wants to change the world
More than half the world’s population is currently living in cities, a proportion set to reach 70 per cent by the year 2050, more than enough reason to redesign our streets to fit everyone’s needs. The idea is to create streets that make all the…
From mutual aid to dual power in the state of emergency
With the shutdown of businesses, schools and countless other institutions, millions of people are facing loss of income, housing and access to basic survival resources, including food. The need for self-organized infrastructures of mutual aid, care and resilience could not be clearer. In the coming…
Food systems are fodder for curbing cities’ environmental impacts
Focusing on urbanization as a key driver of environmental change in the 21st century, researchers have created a framework to understand and compare cities’ food systems and their effects on climate change, water use and land use. The research will allow planners to estimate the…
How EU rules are getting in the way of progressive public policy – and how cities are fighting back
Over recent years there’s been a surge in European cities that, via public tendering, are using their spending power far more pro-actively and strategically to promote social justice and environmental goals. Leading this trend are city governments that define themselves as municipalist and are committed…