Official greenhouse gas data for the direct pollution caused by cities is highly exaggerated, according to a new study published in next month’s issue of the journal Environment and Urbanization. The article points out that while Western cities are not directly as polluting as they are believed to be, they house people responsible for the bulk of our planet's environmental problems; the shop till you drop consumer.
As we mark the official start of summer this weekend, like in years past, many storefronts from Rodeo Drive to Fifth Avenue to London’s West End will open up their doors, offering cool, air-conditioned oases from the sweltering heat of the streets. Yet, what serves as a clever marketing ploy for the businesses—often successfully luring in helpless passersby first for the cool and then keeping them there for their wares—is also, as you might imagine, a huge waste of energy.
Image from laszio-photo
The world record for the fastest a human can swim as a matter of fact, is just over 5 miles an hour. I explain that as a way of proving that there are sea stars thriving in a current in Antarctica that would leave most of us barely able to hold our positions, and Olympic athletes struggling to gain ground. Brittlestars, by the tens of millions, are thriving in between Antarctica and New Zealand on a 4km/h current on a seamount that’s taller than the tallest buildings in the world.
After having the joy of riding out the tornadoes in Atlanta earlier this month, I started thinking about how rare it must be for mother nature’s wrath to be taken out on urban areas.
From ricof3 on Flickr
Recently an American economist crunched the numbers and determined the most dense urban areas in America–something that may be a bit of a misnomer, given our national reputation for sprawl and hourlong commutes.
Image from NASA
Nevertheless, he had some shocking findings relating to location, geography, and public transportation.
5. Chicago, Illinois
Central London is blessed with many green and leafy public and private squares, acres of Royal Parks, a canal and the Thames River. But things get grim the further out of the centre that one travels. London Open City is a new exhibit which examines the need for open space in London and sets out a list of 100 public spaces that could be restored, refurbished or created in the next five years. The show is divided into three parts and at the end one feels that they have started to come to grips with the range and scope of the proposals.
Delicious
Digg
Reddit
Technorati