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I spent 48 hours in Berlin and found an unexpected urban oasis of greenery and art. Take a look around these pockets of the city.

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Urban waterfronts are neglected in many American cities. </li><li>But they have huge potential to revitalize cities and make them more equitable. </li></ul>On a sunny, 80-degree Saturday afternoon in late October, Mia Olis left her home in Chelsea to soak up the rays on Manhattan's brand-new — and so far only — public beach.Raised in Hawaii, Olis loves the water and surfing. But Rockaway Beach — more than an hour away by subway — was too far a trek that day. The 1,200 tons of sand near Greenwich Village along the Hudson river would have to do."I love that everybody's here," Olis, a 40-year-old lawyer, said while perched on a towel in a bikini. But she noted the park sits in a ritzy neighborhood, and thought it felt a little exclusive. "I wish it were more accessible to everybody else from uptown, Harlem, the Bronx." Still, she said, any new green space in New York is cause for celebration.Urban waterways can be a huge asset to cities and their residents. Rivers, lakes, canals, and ocean beaches can attract new residents, visitors, and commercial development. If they're well-designed, they can make cities more inclusive and help protect them from storms and heatwaves.Waterfronts are also just nice places to be. People are naturally drawn to them, as many <a target="_blank" href="https://mrbellersneighborhood.com/2004/03/on-the-aesthetics-of-urban-walking-and-writing">a poet</a> and sociologist has pointed out. And they'll also <a target="_blank" href="https://www.statista.com/statistics/1074384/average-waterfront-premiums-added-worldwide-by-location/#:~:text=It%20comes%20as%20no%20surprise,the%20third%20quarter%20of%202018.">pay a premium to live by them</a>. Economists say cities with struggling downtowns should invest in their green space — and that includes opening up waterfronts."Places that have better natural amenities — they tend to do better. They attract more people, they attract more jobs, they have higher economic growth," said Amanda Weinstein, a professor of economics at the University of Akron. But they have to be made accessible. "It's the investment in that natural amenity that matters."While the breeze off the Hudson offered some respite on that unusually warm fall day, a dip in the water would've been an even better way to cool off. But there's no public pool nearby, and <a target="_blank" href="https://waterfrontalliance.org/2023/06/29/can-you-swim-in-the-hudson-river/#:~:text=The%20short%20answer%20is%20%E2%80%9CYes,being%20swimmable%2C%20particularly%20after%20rainfall.">no sanctioned river swim spots</a> in the city. Even if the Hudson was consistently clean enough to swim in, it would take a lot to convince many New Yorkers to dive in."It would be a really big leap for me to swim in it," said Karin Balow, a 58-year-old Inwood resident who grew up along the river upstate. She traveled from her Upper Manhattan home to check out the new beach, where she settled into an Adirondack chair with a book. "But it has come a long, long way. So who knows?"<div type="image" title="People lounge on the new beach on Gansevoort peninsula in Manhattan on October 28, 2023." height="828" width="1280" msid="105315270" hostid="261" sizebytes="92466"></div>New York City has done a lot to invest in its 520 miles of waterfront. The sandy bluff on Gansevoort peninsula is part of the much larger Hudson River park and looks out over Little Island, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/little-island-nyc-photo-tour-barry-diller-diane-von-fuerstenbergs-2021-5">a whimsical, highly instagrammable transformation</a> of Pier 55. Hoards of people crowded the winding, tree-lined paths up to the island's breezy observation deck on that October day. If they read the signage, they'd know the city's garbage used to be incinerated where they stood. The park — the borough's second-largest — is credited with <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/19/business/hudson-river-park-development-manhattan.html">helping revitalize Manhattan's west side</a>.Over the last couple of decades, New York has built a series of iconic waterfront parks on former industrial sites like Brooklyn Bridge Park and Domino Park in Brooklyn, Battery Park and the East River park in Manhattan, and Gantry State Plaza Park and Astoria Park in Queens. Governor's island now features manmade hills with sweeping skyline views, urban farming, and glamping. And the East River might soon get <a target="_blank" href="https://secretnyc.co/nyc-floating-pool-east-river/">a massive floating pool</a>.Cities across the country are increasingly looking to transform their neglected waterfronts in an effort to bring people back downtown. Cleveland, Ohio, is <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cleveland.com/news/2023/10/60-complete-cleveland-downtown-lakefront-plan-calls-for-affordable-fun-scaled-down-shoreway-eventual-move-for-browns-tailgaters.html">working on a plan</a> for a new beach, housing, and park space on the shores of Lake Erie and the Cuyahoga River. Seattle has torn down an elevated freeway downtown to make way for a waterfront park.<div type="image" title="A man casts his line into the Tidal Basin as seen from under the inlet bridge, one of the local sights to be seen from the Potomac and Anacostia rivers, on March, 27, 2019 in Washington, DC." height="964" width="1280" msid="105315273" hostid="261" sizebytes="97766"></div><h2>Safer and more equitable cities</h2>A couple hundred miles south of Manhattan, the waters off the shores of the nation's capital are also finding new life. In recent years, DC has opened up its waterfront, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/exciting-the-wharfs-phase-2-opens-on-five-year-anniversary/3179428/">transforming the southwest</a> with the glitzy Wharf — featuring luxury condos, restaurants, music venues, and a soccer stadium, and redeveloping the Capitol riverfront <a target="_blank" href="https://www.npr.org/local/305/2021/02/17/968639957/new-development-planned-for-navy-yard-is-basically-another-wharf">from Navy Yard</a> to Buzzard Point with the Nationals baseball stadium and tons of new housing.The city just recently finished its decade-long construction of two major tunnels that capture stormwater, preventing <a target="_blank" href="https://dcist.com/story/23/09/18/new-anacostia-river-tunnel-online-sewage-overflows/">almost all sewage from overflowing</a> into the Anacostia river during storms and easing flooding in low-lying neighborhoods. For the first time in over a half century, the city is planning to open the Anacostia river next June for a sanctioned swimming event. The splash event was supposed to happen in July, and then September of this year, but was postponed twice due to severe storms.Urban waterways like the Hudson and Anacostia pose a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.usgs.gov/science/science-explorer/climate/coasts-storms-and-sea-level-rise">serious flooding threat</a> to cities as climate change triggers rising sea levels and more ferocious storms. Waterfront parks can help in collecting storm surge and rainwater and preventing flooding. They can also offer respite as summers get hotter.Cities — built of heat-absorbing asphalt and concrete, instead of cooling greenery — <a target="_blank" href="https://finance.yahoo.com/news/analysis-urban-heat-islands-identifies-100600510.html">make heatwaves even worse</a>. International climate experts warn heat-related deaths globally <a target="_blank" href="https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/heat-related-deaths-could-more-than-quadruple-by-mid-century-report-2023-11-14/?taid=655468f0e7423b00010e1061&amp;utm_campaign=trueanthem&amp;utm_medium=trueanthem&amp;utm_source=twitter">could more than quadruple</a> by mid-century if the planet heats up to 2 degrees celsius above pre-industrial levels. A cool breeze off a river or lake, or a dip in one, could save lives."There is a very real need in cities," said Trey Sherard, the riverkeeper at the DC non-profit Anacostia Riverkeeper, which is organizing the June swim event. "It's not just recreation, it's public health to be able to cool off that way."Climate resilience is also key to building more equitable cities. Communities of color and lower-income neighborhoods across the country <a target="_blank" href="https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-report-shows-disproportionate-impacts-climate-change-socially-vulnerable">are disproportionately impacted</a> by environmental impacts, like flooding and extreme heat. In the DC area, the vast majority of homes most vulnerable to flooding are in Ward 7 and Prince George's County, Maryland, both of which are majority Black. There are also historic inequities when it comes to swimming. Public pools across the country were largely racially segregated until the 1950s — and after that, many <a target="_blank" href="https://www.marketplace.org/2021/02/15/public-pools-used-to-be-everywhere-in-america-then-racism-shut-them-down/">private pools</a> opened to cater to white people fleeing desegregation. Without safe and clean rivers and lakes to turn to, Black communities across the country often didn't have anywhere to take a dip or teach their kids to swim.DC's Black communities still face many of these challenges. The free swimming lessons that the city department of parks and recreation offers can't meet the high demand and don't cater to adults."There's a lot of water fear in DC, especially east of the river. And that speaks to generations being separated from their waterways," Sherard said.Sherard said the Anacostia's inaugural swim event is being modeled after one on the Charles River in Boston. But he also pointed to international models.In Switzerland's biggest city, Zurich, swimmers can hop into the Limmat river or Lake Zurich right downtown. The most enthusiastic locals in Zurich and Bern <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ft.com/content/17abc354-e3b9-48b8-8a25-bdccb4426f7f">swim to and from work</a> with their phone, wallet, and clothes strapped to them in <a target="_blank" href="https://www.insider.com/switzerland-workers-commute-by-floating-down-rivers-video-2023-7">a floating waterproof satchel</a>. Paris is poised to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-66238618">open up its Seine River to swimmers</a> for the first time in 100 years. Mayor Anne Hidalgo, who's something of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.planetizen.com/features/124594-100-most-influential-urbanists-past-and-present">a global urbanist hero</a>, has pioneered a billion-dollar effort to clean up the iconic river in time to hold Olympic events in it next summer.Skepticism abounds about how clean the murky depths of the Anacostia are. Sherard said he hears plenty of "hell no, never" when it comes to swimming in the river, but he's also found real enthusiasm for opening the river up. There's lots of work left to do. Advocates for the river want Congress to approve funding for the Army Corps of Engineers to dredge the Anacostia to remove toxic sediment and ease flooding.If the river is dredged, it could also be a huge boost for the country's first African American boating club — <a target="_blank" href="https://www.seafarersyachtclub.com/">Seafarers Yacht Club</a> — whose boathouse on the river's west bank is only accessible in high tide because of accumulated sediment."What a gem to have on the river," Sherard said.

The key to fighting the urban doom loop might be a downtown beach

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="736063" type="General" weightage="60" keywordseo="green-infrastructure" source="Orion">Green infrastructure</keyword> can help <keyword id="6399501" type="General" weightage="60" keywordseo="cities" source="Orion">cities</keyword> solve climate problems and promote the health of residents.</li><li>Things like urban greenery can also offer environmental, social, and economic benefits to a city.</li></ul>Setting ordinances to build more green roofs, planting trees and native plants, and designing community green spaces are just a few ways that many cities are investing in green infrastructure to solve climate-related problems and promote the health of residents. Expanding <a href="https://www.epa.gov/green-infrastructure/performance-green-infrastructure">greenery in urban areas</a>, for example, helps cities manage stormwater, reduce energy use, improve air quality, enhance the quality of life of residents, reduce the <a href="https://www.epa.gov/green-infrastructure/reduce-urban-heat-island-effect">urban heat island effect</a>, and boost local economies. <div type="image" title="headshot of Gail Hansen" height="1620" width="2160" msid="90573725" hostid="261"></div>"A lot of cities are becoming more concerned with environmental stressors that climate change is bringing," such as sea-level rise, saltwater intrusion, and more intense tornadoes and storms, <a href="https://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/faculty-profiles/gail-hansen/">Gail Hansen</a>, an associate professor at the University of Florida's Environmental Horticulture Department, told Insider."One big trend is resilient city plans, and using green infrastructure is a big part of those plans to protect cities from these stressors," she added. Last year, 31 mayors of cities, including Los Angeles, New Orleans, Seattle, and Austin, signed the <a href="https://www.c40.org/declarations/urban-nature-declaration/">C40 Urban Nature Declaration</a> to show their commitment to green infrastructure. The cities pledged to convert up to 40% of city surfaces to green or blue, that's water-related features, infrastructure by 2030 — including trees, urban forests, <keyword id="6516786" type="General" weightage="60" keywordseo="ponds" source="Orion">ponds</keyword>, and <keyword id="6364482" type="General" weightage="60" keywordseo="parks" source="Orion">parks</keyword> with sustainable drainage systems — and ensure that 70% of their residents have access to green or blue public areas, such as wetlands or ponds, within a 15-minute walk or bike ride. "Cities have to be very future thinking," Hansen said. Those invested in green infrastructure can become environmentally healthier and more resilient, which provides opportunities for residents and economies to thrive. <h2>Green roofs and other infrastructure are becoming a focus for cities </h2>One green-infrastructure trend is a <a href="https://www.epa.gov/soakuptherain/soak-rain-green-roofs">green roof</a>, which is a layer of vegetation planted over a waterproofing system atop a building. Plants absorb rainwater, preventing it from running off the roof's surface and potentially causing flooding. <div type="image" title="man standing in a green forest" height="488" width="651" msid="90573726" hostid="261"></div>"Cities are seeing their green roofs as an opportunity to provide a variety of infrastructure benefits to help us future-proof our cities against climate change," said <a href="https://greenroofs.org/steven-peck">Steven Peck</a>, the founder and president of <a href="http://www.greenroofs.org">Green Roofs for Healthy Cities</a>.The benefits include providing shade, cutting a building's energy use, and reducing the surrounding air and surface temperatures, according to the <a href="https://www.epa.gov/heatislands/using-green-roofs-reduce-heat-islands">US Environmental Protection Agency</a>. Green-roof temperatures can be up to 40 degrees Fahrenheit lower than traditional roofs and reduce citywide temperatures by about five degrees. Managing heat islands creates more equitable communities, as low-income areas tend to suffer most from overheating, which results in poorer air quality and diminished health, Peck added. Chicago has been a <a href="http://wendycitychicago.com/chicago-green-roofs/">leader in green-roof installations</a> in the US, with <a href="https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/dcd/supp_info/chicago_green_roofs.html">more than 500</a> such roofs in the city. <a href="https://sfplanning.org/project/better-roofs">San Francisco</a>, <a href="https://www1.nyc.gov/assets/buildings/pdf/green_roof_solar_ll92-n-94of2019_sn.pdf">New York City</a>, and <a href="https://www.toronto.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/7eb7-Toronto-Green-Roof-Construction-Standard-Supplementary-Guidelines.pdf">Toronto</a> also have ordinances requiring green roofs for some new and renovated buildings. Peck said green roofing that incorporates biodiversity — where plants are used to attract insects, birds, and wildlife — is an emerging trend. The <a href="https://javitscenter.com/en/sustainability/">green roof at the Javits Center</a> in New York is an example, as it's home to honeybees and several species of birds and bats. Biodiversity in other green spaces <a href="https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1365-2664.13475">encourages wildlife habits</a> and promotes cleaner air and water, Hansen said. Some projects feature native plants to strengthen the local ecosystems, and trees and urban forests boost biodiversity and provide tree-canopy coverage. <a href="https://www.cogitatiopress.com/urbanplanning/article/view/3633">Biophilic design</a> is also being incorporated in green landscaping projects, Hansen said. Biophilia refers to people's innate need for nature, and Hansen said city governments see adding parks, walking and biking trails, and greenery that are all easily accessible as a way to boost residents' physical and mental health. "A lot of cities are thinking about ways to create opportunities for people to have more recreational spaces where they can interact with nature, even if it's a little pocket park," she said. "They're also looking at how these landscapes can meet the needs of diverse cultures in a community." Phoenix, St. Louis, Miami, and Washington, DC, are some of the metros that are part of the <a href="https://www.biophiliccities.org/partner-cities">Biophilic Cities network</a>, showing their commitment to improving the connection between residents and nature. <h2>Green infrastructure offers environmental, social, and economic benefits</h2>Urban greenery filters air and water, which makes communities healthier, Hansen said. Research showed that increasing access to green spaces <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/pdfs/journals/lanplh/PIIS2542-5196(19)30215-3.pdf">decreased mortality</a>, and that urban green spaces <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-019-46099-7">reduced stress</a> and improved mental and physical health. Green infrastructure also boosts local economies by encouraging tourism dollars and attracting developers. Buildings with green roofs, for example, eliminate problems like flooding and excess heat, and they add recreational space. Peck said adding amenities and making properties more sustainable could increase property values and attract residents and businesses. Transforming old industrial structures and sites, such as abandoned rail systems, into parks could help cities revitalize areas and drive economic development, Hansen said. She cited New York's <a href="https://www.thehighline.org/">High Line</a>, a linear park and trail system built on a former railroad line, as an example. Some of the challenges cities face in implementing these projects include funding, stakeholder and community buy-in, and outdated city codes and ordinances, Hansen said. She added that some were overcoming the challenges by creating public-private partnerships and using data to show how green infrastructure benefits the city and its residents. Still, incorporating green infrastructure into their resiliency plans is imperative for cities, she said, adding, "It's almost become a must-have for cities to figure out how they're going to weather — no pun intended — a lot of these big issues."

How investing in green infrastructure helps cities manage the effects of the climate crisis and creates healthy communities

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="12137269" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="extreme-heat" source="Orion">Extreme heat</keyword> is the leading weather-related cause of death in the US.</li><li>Leaders in some areas are appointing heat czars to help fight dangerous warming.</li></ul>This article is part of Insider's weekly newsletter on <keyword id="11896309" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="sustainability" source="Orion">sustainability</keyword>, written by Tim Paradis, future-of-business editor.It's sometimes called the <a href="https://www.noaa.gov/stories/excessive-heat-silent-killer" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored">silent killer</a>.We know about the perils of storms, fires, and floods. We take cover, run to safety, or move to higher ground. But <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/toolkits/extremeheat/default.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored">what to do about extreme heat</a>?Heat is the <a href="https://www.epa.gov/climate-indicators/climate-change-indicators-heat-related-deaths" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored">leading weather-related killer</a> in the US, even though most of these deaths are preventable. That's because, like a driver speeding down a highway, many of us fail to appreciate the risks we're facing.And as the planet warms, it's as if more of us are punching the gas pedal. Extreme heat demands — and is now getting — greater attention because human activity is dialing Earth's thermostat ever higher. Areas that <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/jun/13/phoenix-arizona-heatwave-daytime-night" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored">routinely sizzle</a>, like Phoenix, are <a href="https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-environment/2021/10/07/phoenix-hires-heat-officer-cool-city-ever-warming-future/6029086001/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored">appointing heat czars</a> to orchestrate urban-cooldown efforts.Cities and states are experimenting with plans to use <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/miami/news/naming-heat-waves-save-lives/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored">severity scales to quantify heat waves</a> and to name life-threatening heat outbreaks, as Seville, Spain, <a href="https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/seville-launches-world-rsquo-s-first-program-to-name-and-rank-heat-waves/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored">now does</a>. It's all an effort to generate the kind of attention we might normally reserve for tornadoes and hurricanes.It's attention that's deserved: The dangers from extreme heat can bubble over in minutes or across several days. Those at higher risk include <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/updates/upd-07-02-18.html#:~:text=Working%20outside%20can%20produce%20heat,up%20safety%20glasses%2C%20and%20dizziness." target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored">people who work outdoors</a>, those who <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/cowboys/2022/07/11/marion-barber-cause-death-dallas-cowboys-running-back-heat-stroke/10033698002/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored">exercise under extreme conditions</a>, older people, and those who are poor.The most serious harms from heat waves are often <a href="https://www.epa.gov/climate-indicators/climate-change-indicators-heat-waves" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored">linked to higher overnight temperatures</a>. That's because when it's harder for people to find respite from daytime extremes, their bodies have to work overtime to shed heat.This is part of why heat has, in some years, killed more people in the US than <a href="https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/r2/recreation/safety-ethics/?cid=FSEPRD494289" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored">hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, and lightning combined</a>. <a href="https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/heatrelated-illnesses-heat-cramps-heat-exhaustion-heat-stroke" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored">Heat-related illnesses include</a> heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and <keyword id="12473634" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="heat-stroke" source="Orion">heat stroke</keyword>. Hot weather can also <a href="https://www.geisinger.org/health-and-wellness/wellness-articles/2017/04/30/22/01/summertime-heat-can-be-hard-on-your-lungs" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored">inhibit breathing</a> and <a href="https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/heat-is-hard-on-the-heart-simple-precautions-can-ease-the-strain-201107223180" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored">put those with heart conditions at risk</a>.When Jane Gilbert became the <a href="https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/chief-heat-officers" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored">first chief heat officer</a> for Miami-Dade County last year, she commissioned studies to understand who in the region was most vulnerable. The efforts found that areas with the highest land-surface temperatures saw greater instances of emergency-department visits for heat-related illnesses.Sections of the county with a dearth of <keyword id="6355381" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="trees" source="Orion">trees</keyword> tended to be hotter — and poorer. Gilbert said areas with higher incomes, by contrast, often had more prolific tree cover. "They almost look like the same map," she said, referring to the overlap between wealth and arboreal plenty.To narrow the tree gap, Miami-Dade County is working to boost its tree canopy from about 20% to 30% by 2032. Part of the effort will target areas with less greenery.The county <a href="https://www.miamidade.gov/global/service.page?Mduid_service=ser1467835324112359" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored">gives away two trees a year</a> to homeowners who want to help in the <a href="https://www8.miamidade.gov/global/recreation/milliontrees/home.page" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored">green-up plan</a>. The program includes instructions for planting and care. Still, not all of the young trees will thrive. Progress in boosting Miami-Dade County's tree coverage <a href="https://www.wlrn.org/news/2021-11-16/miami-dade-county-florida-extreme-heat-season-cop26-tree-canopy" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored">has proven difficult</a> because some trees, new and old, are damaged in storms or are lost when land is cleared for development. Yet drawing in everyday citizens to the effort is essential, Gilbert said, because the county can't otherwise reach its goal."We only own a very small portion of the land. And if we're going to get to 30% tree canopy, we need private-sector involvement in that. We're never going to get there without all partners." Miami-Dade County gives away about 2,000 trees at each of its adopt-a-tree events and, since 2001, has handed out more than 215,000 of them.Taking steps to cool so-called <a href="https://scied.ucar.edu/learning-zone/climate-change-impacts/urban-heat-islands" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored">urban heat islands</a> is wise because we'll likely face more hot days.Noboru Nakamura, a professor in the department of geophysical sciences at the University of Chicago, <a href="https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2021GL097699" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored">identified unusual behavior in the jet stream</a> that facilitated last summer's historic <keyword id="11947988" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="heat-wave" source="Orion">heat wave</keyword> in the Pacific Northwest in which more than 1,000 people died in the US and Canada. The phenomenon is called atmospheric blocking, and it involves the jet stream stalling over a region."When this happens, weather stops changing regularly," Nakamura said. "This is typically how extreme heat and flooding conditions occur."While extreme-heat events are likely to increase, what's less understood is the role Earth's atmospheric machinery might play, he said."You may have some unexpected behavior of the weather systems and internal workings of the atmospheric circulation," Nakamura said, "which is chaotic."Insider is seeking nominations for its first Climate Action 30 list, which identifies the top 30 global leaders working toward climate solutions.Tell us about someone who you believe is doing some of the most impactful or promising work to tackle the global <keyword id="11896310" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="climate-crisis" source="Orion">climate crisis</keyword>:

Extreme heat causes more deaths than storms, fires, and floods in the US. Cities are responding by naming heat czars and looking for ways to cool urban areas.

ReutersAn overview of the Porter Ranch neighborhood in Los Angeles, California February 19, 2016.Los Angeles has <a href="http://bss.lacity.org/urbanforestry/FAQs.htm">an estimated 10 million trees</a>. They reduce excess CO2 in the air, act as wildlife habitat, improve water quality, reduce energy use, and increase surrounding property values.But that number is far less than two decades ago.That's according to <a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1618866716303296">a new study</a> from the University of California, which says the amount of tree cover in LA County has declined rapidly since 2000.The study - led by USC spatial scientists Su Jin Lee, John P. Wilson, Travis Longcore, and Catherine Rich - suggests that large single-family homes, often known as McMansions, are to blame for the loss of LA's trees.Americans' growing preference for large single-family houses, along with the increase in driveways and swimming pools that come with home expansion, is the largest driver of tree cover loss in the US, according to the study.Looking at satellite imagery and data from the LA County assessor's office, the researchers found about one-third of the city's trees in single-family housing neighborhoods was eliminated from 2000 to 2009. During that period, tree cover may have decreased up to 55%.In a press release, Longcore said sacrificing trees for redevelopment cuts across all Southern California neighborhoods, regardless of socioeconomic status.It's perhaps no coincidence that more homeowners gravitated toward <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/the-mcmansion-is-dying-2016-8">McMansions</a> (large, luxury, mass-produced, single-family homes) starting in the late 1990s. McMansion developments often lead to <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2015/02/why-are-people-still-building-sprawl/385741/">suburban sprawl </a>that sacrifice flora for pavement.Surprisingly, the researchers also found that 1950s suburban development may have been good for trees, at least in LA. Private land owners planted trees on their land during that decade, contributing to <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/257564633_Urban_tree_planting_programs_function_or_fashion_Los_Angeles_and_urban_tree_planting_campaigns">a richer urban forest</a> in the city."These ecologically beneficial consequences occurred organically - not as the result of conscious environmental policy, but rather as an outgrowth of the cultural aesthetic and economics of the times," the researchers write.They say homeowners at the time valued greenery and shade as key neighborhood selling points, perhaps more than McMansion owners do today.Today, nearly a decade after the 2008 housing bust, property development is as ambitious as ever. In Los Angeles, the average new home spans 2,687 square feet, and nearly one-third measuring over 3,000 square feet, <a href="https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/map/INC110213/0644000/accessible">according</a> to the 2016 US Census Bureau annual survey. <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/china-gladiator-robot-to-challenge-the-us-megabot-mkiii-kuratas-japan-fighting-tech-2017-5">Chinese inventors show off the gladiator robot they want to use to challenge the US' 'Megabot'</a></h3> Please enable Javascript to watch this video

McMansions are killing the Los Angeles urban forest

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Nithin Hassan moved from California to Bengaluru in 2023 to launch his startup.</li><li>Hassan left a high-paying job at Meta to address urban greenery issues in India.</li></ul>This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Nithin Hassan, who moved from California to Bengaluru, India, in 2023 to launch his startup. It has been edited for length and clarity. Business Insider has verified his employment history.I grew up in and around Bengaluru, India, in the late 1990s and 2000s.I moved to the US in 2006 for a master's in computer science. After graduating, I worked at AT&amp;T, Cisco, Amazon, and Microsoft for the next 13 years. In 2021, I switched to Meta, where I helped build data centers for the company.I got married in 2013, and my wife also worked in Big Tech in the US. We really enjoyed life in the Bay Area — we had bought our own house and had a strong friend circle I saw as my family outside India. We also had two daughters, who are now six and two.My wife and I were growing in our careers and making about $1 million in compensation together. I didn't feel like my career or learning had stagnated, and I managed to find time for personal projects like writing books about business.But around the pandemic, something felt missing. I felt like I had not yet found my purpose.<h2 id="f9732e74-d386-406d-8231-01e19d270367">Golden handcuffs</h2>I knew I wanted to give back to my hometown in some way, and I had spotted a problem I could build solutions for. I was also tired of missing out on things back home — I wanted to be close to my family while my parents were still healthy.I realized that a well-paying job in the US was my golden handcuff — it kept me from moving back home and filling both those gaps.Giving up our <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/worked-in-big-tech-before-launching-my-own-startup-engineer-2024-9">life in the US and my job</a> was a tough decision for my family, but I wanted to follow a minimum-regret mindset.When I told my colleagues at Meta about my plan, they thought I was crazy. We had just gone through a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/layoff-angst-meta-employees-face-tough-reviews-reorgs-2024-3">big 30% layoff</a>, and I was among those that got to stay. The company even offered to move me closer to India, but I went ahead with my resignation.I <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/i-moved-back-to-india-after-living-abroad-for-decade-2024-9">decided to return to India</a> in December last year after nearly two decades in the US.<h2 id="02520e95-090c-46ff-a038-c1e4035f6155">A startup to marry two passions</h2>I took a monthlong break to sort my ideas and came up with a plan.I had been noticing how temperatures in my hometown, Bengaluru, had risen drastically in the last 10 years. Even the monsoon months, which are supposed to be pleasant, started feeling like summer because of all the urban development.It worried me that there weren't any major government or private initiatives looking to improve things — even the tech giants I worked at were looking at climate solutions indirectly. I came up with the idea of building an e-commerce platform that aims to improve urban greenery. It gave me an opportunity to combine two things I love, technology and gardening, which was always my escape when things got busy.I launched my startup in January and have been working on scaling it up since. I have also built a mentorship and job readiness platform to help those looking for career guidance.Both my ventures are bootstrapped and I only plan to bring on any partners if they are a strategic fit. I don't want the pressure of an investor pushing me to make decisions that only have a financial benefit, because I don't want to lose sight of my original purpose.<h2 id="70f8cf9f-715a-43fd-b16e-96db0ba61193">Bureaucracy and big commutes</h2>I love being back home, but there are challenges. India is still not among the highest-ranked countries for the ease of doing business, and I have faced bureaucracy when setting up my startups.We've had to make sacrifices as a family too. My wife is still working at a Big Tech company and spends much more time commuting than she did back in the US. I have two daughters, and inequality in Indian workplaces and concerns for their safety also weigh on me.But there is a different joy in building solutions for India and the problems that I grew up around, like improving local greenery and better access to mentorship.Another big advantage is that the Indian market is chaotic. Even long-established players are still trying to figure it out, which makes it easier for new entrants. The market size has also been encouraging. One of our first orders came from the opposite end of the country, which was surprising because we had not even begun marketing or search engine optimization campaigns.But most importantly, I feel like I have found what was missing.Growing up, I heard my parents talking about their regrets and things they wanted to do. I didn't want any regrets when telling my kids about my life.I tell myself: I'll explore my own venture for five to 10 years and go back to a corporate job if things don't work out. I'll have a bigger experience and a better story to tell.Did you leave Big Tech to pursue a career in a completely different field? Please reach out to this reporter: shubhangigoel@insider.com

My wife and I gave up $1 million in Big Tech pay to move from California back to India. I couldn't find purpose in the US.

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Liu Thai Ker, 86, is an urban planner who's often considered the architect of modern Singapore.</li><li>He helped build public housing apartments and oversaw the development of the city's land-use plans.</li></ul>Towering skyscrapers, candy-colored <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/see-inside-public-housing-singapore-hdb-million-dollars-blue-zone-2023-11">public housing apartment blocks</a>, and lush green spaces — Singapore has long been recognized for its meticulous urban planning.The city-state is home to a population of <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.population.gov.sg/our-population/population-trends/overview/">5.9 million</a> people despite spanning just <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.singstat.gov.sg/publications/reference/ebook/society/environment#:~:text=The%20main%20island%20of%20Singapore,Water%20Mark%20cadastral%20survey%20boundaries.">284 square miles</a>, and much of the credit for the city's layout goes to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://morrow.sg/dr-liu-thai-ker/">Liu Thai Ker</a>, 86, an urban planner who's often considered the architect of modern Singapore.<div type="image" title="Liu Thai Ker smiling at the camera." height="3840" width="5760" msid="112030496" hostid="261"></div>During his time at the Housing Development Board, Liu oversaw the building of 20 new towns and more than half a million housing units in the city. In the late 80s and early 90s, he also served as the chief planner of the Urban Redevelopment Authority, where he developed Singapore's land-use plans.And yet, Liu has said he has <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/24/world/asia/singapore-public-housing-urban-planner.html">two regrets about how Singapore was planned</a>.<h2 id="8410c561-8267-4462-80d5-ddaa3060ded9">Creating bicycle paths for the city</h2>"When I was in the HDB, I raised the issue of planning bicycle paths for citizens," Liu told Business Insider. "At that time, my colleagues and I had several discussions but eventually decided against it due to Singapore's tropical climate, which we felt would be too hot for cycling."<div type="image" title="A lone cyclist riding their bike along a path at the Gardens by The Bay in Singapore." height="3000" width="4500" msid="112030495" hostid="261"></div>But he said the attitudes of Singaporeans and people around the world today had changed.Liu said he wished he'd developed bike sections for roads and incorporated bicycle paths into streets. "Fortunately, I believe it is still possible to do so," he added.Last year, the local outlet The Straits Times reported that local authorities were planning to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/transport/new-cycling-paths-in-7-towns-will-be-progressively-completed-from-2024-lta">double the city's existing cycling network</a> from 530 kilometers now to 1,300 kilometers by 2030.Thomas Schroepfer, a professor of architecture and sustainable design at the Singapore University of Technology and Design, told BI that integrating more bicycle paths would enhance Singapore's sustainability efforts, aligning with global trends in urban development seen in cities such as Amsterdam and Copenhagen.<div type="image" title="A sign for a shared track for pedestrians and cyclists, with people cycling and walking on a path underneath it." height="3624" width="4832" msid="112030507" hostid="261"></div>"Creating bicycle paths is crucial for sustainable cities and would benefit Singapore by reducing traffic congestion, lowering emissions, and improving public health through increased physical activity," Schroepfer said.He also said bicycle paths could boost local economies, as cyclists are more likely to stop at local businesses.<h2 id="074f9e83-7b88-45b6-af47-9ca34ce5b0a4">Preserving squatter huts for the younger generations to see</h2>Singapore's skyline today includes some world-famous builds.There's the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/i-toured-singapores-marina-bay-sands-resort-rooftop-pool-tour-2023-1">Marina Bay Sands and its infinity pool</a>. There's the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/oasia-hotel-downtown-singapore-green-living-tower-2022-6">Oasia Hotel in downtown Singapore</a>, which has been called a "living tower" for the greenery that's intentionally growing over its 620-foot facade. And there's <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.visitsingapore.com/neighbourhood/featured-neighbourhood/marina-bay/esplanades-theatres-on-the-bay/">Esplanade</a>, a theater by the Singapore River that's nicknamed "The Durian" for its resemblance to the tropical fruit.But in the '60s, Singapore looked drastically different.According to the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.mnd.gov.sg/our-city-our-home/our-early-struggles">Ministry of National Development</a>, an estimated 300,000 people lived in semi-permanent shelters in squatter areas, while another 250,000 were in rented partitioned cubicles in old shophouses.<div type="image" title="A black-and-white photo of a busy street in Singapore." height="2728" width="3508" msid="112030500" hostid="261"></div>Through the HDB, the government managed to rehouse about 1.2 million squatters by 1985, Liu said."While it is a very gratifying achievement, my regret is that we did not attempt to save a few hectares of the original squatter colonies for Singaporeans of today and future generations to see how far we have transformed the city to its present condition," Liu said."No amount of photographs or written text, can convey adequately the poor living conditions of our squatters in the early days," he continued. "As we always say, seeing is believing. While regretfully, we can no longer see our squatter colonies today, this also implies that Singaporeans are living in much better conditions."<div type="image" title="Several high-rise apartment blocks." height="1358" width="1811" msid="112030493" hostid="261"></div>Indeed, Singapore's <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/singapore-architecture-shows-why-it-is-blue-zone-dan-buettner-2023-9">public housing apartments</a> are home to about 80% of the country's resident population today.While there are no squatter settlements in Singapore anymore, other old architectural features, such as <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/singapore-renovation-shophouse-conservation-joo-chiat-peranakan-inside-photos-2023-3">shophouses</a> and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/singapore-black-and-white-colonial-bungalow-inside-photos-2022-5">black-and-white colonial bungalows</a>, have been conserved.Rita Padawangi, an associate professor at the Singapore University of Social Sciences, told BI the purpose of preservation should be to encourage the younger generation to think about who they are as individuals and as a society."Squatter huts are probably a reminder of the need for supporting infrastructures so that people do not take for granted the basic standard of living that is almost universal in Singapore, which is a tremendous achievement," she said. "But we must also think about the people who live in these old homes when they are preserved, because preservation is only meaningful when the place is lived in."<div type="image" title="An old wooden house on stilts by the beach." height="1412" width="1883" msid="112030501" hostid="261"></div>Instead of conserving squatter settlements — where people lived in squalid conditions — it'd be better to conserve the "kampongs," or villages, of Singapore instead, she said.She added that this would allow younger generations to learn about urban change, what Singapore has achieved, and what has been lost along the way.She said two places in Singapore still come to mind when locals think about the old days: <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/singapore-last-traditional-village-kampong-lorong-buangkok-photos-real-estate-2022-3">Kampong Lorong Buangkok</a>, the last traditional village in Singapore, and Pulau Ubin, a small island off the northeast coast of Singapore that's <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.sg101.gov.sg/resources/connexionsg/pulauubin/#:~:text=Home%20to%20only%20a%20small,a%20popular%20getaway%20destination%20today.">home to about 38 villagers</a>."They are still around not because they are purposely preserved. These two places are still lived in, and that is why they become meaningful," she said.<h2 id="132f44b2-6dea-4c94-8796-c0699d5ba88a">Toward the future</h2>Singapore already has an efficient waste-management system and advanced water-management strategies such as rainwater harvesting, desalination, and wastewater recycling, Schroepfer said.At the same time, the city has been <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://edition.cnn.com/2023/06/09/asia/air-conditioning-singapore-climate-change-intl-hnk-dst/index.html">criticized for its heavy reliance on air conditioning</a> — which puts a strain on the environment but also provides relief from the hot and humid climate, where the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/5-takeaways-new-climate-report-2336471">average daily temperature</a> is about 82 degrees Fahrenheit.<div type="image" title="Multiple air-conditioning units on the back of buildings." height="1414" width="2121" msid="112030502" hostid="261"></div>In recent years, the government has been ramping up its efforts to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.straitstimes.com/business/suntec-city-to-join-marina-bay-district-cooling-network-by-2027">improve the city's district cooling system</a>, in which a centralized chiller plant is used to cool multiple buildings through a network of underground pipes carrying chilled water.But Schroepfer said that to future-proof the city for challenges such as the climate crisis and population growth, there are other measures that Singapore can take."Urban planning should prioritize sustainability, inclusivity, and resilience," he added. "Integrating green spaces, efficient public transport, and renewable energy sources are crucial."

Singapore is considered one of the best-designed cities in the world. The man who masterminded it has 2 regrets.

<ul class="summary-list"><li>New York City got its first tiny forest, planted on Roosevelt Island on April 6. </li><li>The planting method, developed by a Japanese botanist, uses minimal land to maximum effect.</li></ul>On a chilly Saturday morning in early April, a few hundred people gathered in a park on Roosevelt Island, a skinny strip of land in New York City's East River, to dig around in the dirt.The occasion was the creation of New York City's first tiny forest, a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.sugiproject.com/blog/the-miyawaki-method-for-creating-forests">planting method</a> developed by the prominent Japanese botanist and ecologist Akira Miyawaki that's designed to accelerate dense growth to promote biodiversity. Volunteers had signed up to help plant 1,500 native trees and shrubs on a 4,000-square-foot plot on the southern end of the island."The idea is very simple, it's to bring back what was once there," said Elise Van Middelem, the founder and CEO of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.sugiproject.com/">SUGi</a>, an international foundation behind the effort.The small, dense plot of greenery is just the newest feature on an island that's undergone many transformations.<div type="image" title="Volunteers and supporters gather in Southpoint Park on Roosevelt Island for a ceremony before planting a pocket forest on April 6, 2024." height="850" width="1280" msid="109287738" hostid="261" sizebytes="156598"></div>Before a Dutch colonist bought the strip of land in 1637, it was <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nypap.org/layers-five-decades-deephistoric-preservation-on-roosevelt-island/">home to the Lenape people</a>, who called the land Minnehanonck. In the late 1660s, the land was acquired by a British captain whose descendants eventually used it for farming and renamed it Blackwell's Island. When the city <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nps.gov/places/blackwell-s-island-new-york-city.htm">took it over in 1828</a>, it built a penitentiary, the New York City Lunatic Asylum, and a smallpox hospital on what became known as Welfare Island.Curtis Zunigh of the nonprofit Lenape Center told attendees at the planting that the mini-forest is an opportunity "to reverse the process of many generations that have threatened the existence and the wellness of this land and our collective spirit."US Rep. Jerry Nadler, who represents the island, said the forest is a way to combat the climate crisis. "Let's not stop here. Let's make the Manhattan Healing Forest a model for expanding green spaces across our city."The island was <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nytimes.com/1976/05/02/archives/roosevelt-island-becoming-a-reality-town-becoming-reality-on.html">fully transformed in the 1970s</a>, after the city moved the last of its prisoners to Rikers Island, renamed it after President Franklin D. Roosevelt, and leased most of the land to New York State. As a way to lure residents to the dilapidated place, the state planned something of an urban utopia with hundreds of below-market-rate apartments.<div type="image" title="A volunteer at the planting of a pocket forest on Roosevelt Island in New York on April 6, 2024." height="850" width="1280" msid="109287740" hostid="261" sizebytes="266896"></div>Judith Berdy was 29 years old when she moved into a one-bedroom apartment for $321 a month on the island in 1977. Forty-six years later, she's still a resident — and the island's <a target="_blank" href="https://rihs.us/order-our-book/">chief historian</a>. Despite its newer luxury homes, Berdy says the island has retained much of the community feel it had decades ago. "It's a real small town, you walk around and most people know each other," she said.Other Roosevelt Island "pioneers" included current resident Christina Delfico's grandmother, aunts, uncles and cousins. Delfico moved to the island herself more than a decade ago and founded a nonprofit called <a target="_blank" href="https://www.idig2learn.org/">iDig2Learn</a> that helps reconnect people with nature. She spurred the creation of the pocket forest when she reached out to Van Middelem last summer after reading about SUGi's work. Van Middelem jumped at the opportunity. A few months later, Delfico secured the necessary approvals from the island's authorities."We've been through a lot of changes," Delfico said, "So this restoration rejuvenation project is just what the doctor ordered."<div type="image" title="An aerial view of where Roosevelt Island's tiny forest is located (outlined in white)." height="853" width="1280" msid="109287743" hostid="261" sizebytes="88794"></div>SUGi has created pocket forests in 42 cities on six continents since 2019 — the Roosevelt Island forest is the group's 200th. Van Middelem hopes London, where SUGi has planted 23 pocket forests — a total of 30,000 trees on 2.7 acres — will be a model for New York. The goal is to create "biodiversity corridors" through cities, Van Middelem said, likening the project to "urban acupuncture."<div type="image" title="An aerial view of Roosevelt Island." height="853" width="1280" msid="109287744" hostid="261" sizebytes="301756"></div>Sharon Bean, who lives in Syracuse, New York, drove down to volunteer at the planting in honor of her sister, Kat Livingston, an avid gardener who died in January of cancer. Bean, a member of the Navajo Nation who grew up in New Mexico, believes kids, in particular, need to connect with nature. "They should learn plants first — our nature first — people second, things last. And it seems like we reversed it."<div type="image" title="Volunteers place native trees and shrubs in pre-dug holes in what will become a pocket forest on Roosevelt Island in New York City." height="850" width="1280" msid="109287746" hostid="261" sizebytes="227490"></div>Despite being designed as an urban paradise — a small, affordable town with plenty of green space — the island "is sitting on a lot of untapped potential," said resident and urban researcher Tayana Panova. Its urban design, Panova said, could do more to bring people together. "It has the bones of a great main street with a lovely main square," she said, but there's little to attract residents and visitors there.The waterfront, she noted, has outstanding views, but "there's almost nothing to do there - no cafés, squares, shade structures, plentiful seating, or other kinds of amenities and assets that we know make the best waterfronts around the world great places that people flock to."Ideally, the tiny forest can offer a new attraction.Olivia MacDonald, a 24-year-old copywriter who lives on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, read about the event in the New York Times and immediately signed up to volunteer."It seems very modern and almost utopian to think about doing something like this," she said. "I just wanted to be a part of it."

New Yorkers planted a tiny forest in a spot where the city used to warehouse prisoners and smallpox patients

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Barcelona is a decade into transforming many of its streets into green, car-light public spaces.</li><li>The effort is admired by urban planners around the world and could be a model for US cities.</li></ul>Barcelona may have found an answer to a whole host of social, health, and environmental ills.The city began implementing "superblocks" — "superillas" in Catalan — a decade ago as a way to cut air pollution. The project essentially limited through-traffic in a cluster group of nine square city blocks, creating greener and more pedestrian-friendly streets.Early opposition to the pilot project soon gave way to widespread support as residents experienced the benefits of quieter, cleaner streets and intersections that functioned more as parks than thoroughfares. Since then, the model has been replicated in neighborhoods across the city.The green spaces — which range from temporary seating areas to permanent playgrounds and other installations — have transformed streets for cars <a target="_blank" href="https://www.vox.com/energy-and-environment/2019/4/9/18300797/barcelona-spain-superblocks-urban-plan">into plazas and linear parks</a>. The idea is to cut noise and air pollution, get people to walk, bike, and exercise more, enhance social cohesion within neighborhoods, and build climate resiliency with cooler, greener streets, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.barcelona.cat/pla-superilla-barcelona/en/superblocks-green-hubs-ans-squares">city officials say</a>.Superblocks feature people <a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/lukespray/status/1552058330259922945">napping on benches</a>, walking their dogs, or hanging at a cafe in in the middle of an intersection-turned-plaza. Kids run and bike freely — including in <a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/BrentToderian/status/1722268095996366956">organized school bike squads</a>. With a speed limit of 10 kilometers per hour (just over 6 mph), vehicles inside the green oases no longer threaten the peace and safety of residents.Earlier this year, the city announced yet another <a target="_blank" href="https://www.gabarcelona.com/blog/superblocks/">major expansion</a> of the project, with a goal of making a third of city streets green by 2030.The Spanish city is far ahead of many of its peers when it comes to building walkable green spaces, but its efforts could be a model for cities around the world. Dense, walkable, mixed-use neighborhoods are increasingly in high demand in the US. And as Americans experience <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/modern-loneliness#:~:text=In%20a%20statement%20in%20May,around%20the%20world%20feel%20lonely.">an epidemic of loneliness</a>, a built environment that fosters social connection might be crucial for public health."It really goes beyond just a traffic-calming measure," said Sven Eggimann, an urban infrastructure researcher at the ZHAW School of Architecture in Switzerland. "This concept really tries to tackle noise, health, social space, urban greenery. I mean, you name it." People who live in communities with more walkable neighborhoods, shared space, greenery, and diverse types of housing, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9062734/">feel more socially connected and less lonely</a>. This is in part because public spaces encourage both incidental interactions between strangers and acquaintances — so-called "weak" social ties — and spontaneous interactions between friends, both of which boost a sense of belonging and connection.And research has <a target="_blank" href="https://www.mentalhealthtoday.co.uk/innovations/can-noise-pollution-affect-our-mental-health">found</a> that noise pollution is tied to mental health conditions like sleeplessness and depression, while air pollution is associated with dementia and strokes.Superblocks create accessible and, crucially, free "third places" — gathering spaces outside of home, work, and school — that are <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/loneliness-epidemic-decline-in-third-places-friends-parks-community-2023-9">key to fighting loneliness</a>.Superblocks are "destinations," said Tayana Panova, a researcher who studies the built environment's effects on mental health. "You don't have to be moving through them. You can stop there, and rest, and connect and play, and just enjoy life."Without squares, plazas, and public green space, people are limited to third places that cost money to be in, likes shops, restaurants, bars and cafes, Panova added."The third place offers opportunities for for people to meet and come across people that they really wouldn't have the opportunity to, to interface with if it were not for these desirable public spaces," Jonathan Cohn, a transportation and infrastructure architect who's worked on public space initiatives in New York City.Residents of Barcelona's superblocks are already seeing positive mental health impacts. Efforts to make much of the city greener and more walkable <a target="_blank" href="https://www.politico.eu/article/barcelona-green-spaces-mental-health-superblocks-eixos-verds/">are expected to reduce</a> both visits to mental health specialists and the use of antidepressants by 13%, <a target="_blank" href="https://phys.org/news/2023-03-green-corridors-barcelona-annual-antidepressant.html">according to a survey</a>.<h2>Spreading the superblock gospel</h2>Barcelona didn't invent superblocks — it got the idea from the nearby city of Vitoria-Gasteiz, which saw a huge drop in air and noise pollution when it implemented the concept in 2008. Urban planners around the world have developed all kinds of ways to slow and reduce traffic.Many cities across Europe have either banned or strictly limited vehicle traffic in their downtowns. Superblocks are similar to the Dutch "<a target="_blank" href="https://www.planetizen.com/definition/woonerf">woonerf</a>," which translates to living street, and is characterized by car-light, curb-less roads that prioritize pedestrians and bicyclists.Something like a superblock is most urgent in areas that suffer from high levels of noise and air pollution and lack street greenery. And they need to be densely populated — this isn't a practical option for neighborhoods dominated by single-family homes — and have some amount of public transit, Eggimann said. No American city has attempted any pedestrianization effort on the scale of what Barcelona is doing. But some dense urban areas are working on smaller-scale projects. New York City has built pedestrian plazas along sections of Broadway in Manhattan and is experimenting with temporary, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/open-streets-new-york-city-increased-spending-businesses-fifth-avenue-2023-10">car-free "Open Streets."</a> San Francisco has implemented "<a target="_blank" href="https://www.sfmta.com/project-updates/2023-slow-streets-evaluation-report">slow streets</a>," which discourage through-traffic on largely residential blocks.Rather than embarking on a grand vision of dramatic change, cities can try "doing small things fast," Eggimann said, so that residents can see the benefits quickly.There are also downsides that have to be planned for. Making a neighborhood more attractive with more walkable, green streets could mean triggering or speeding up gentrification. Making it harder to drive when public transportation isn't simultaneously improved could make commutes harder.It's clear that while there might be political challenges and initial opposition, Americans want greener communities with more public space. More walkable communities with high-quality public spaces are much more expensive to live in, indicating high demand. Home buyers in the biggest cities in the US pay 35% more to live in walkable neighborhoods and renters pay 41% more, according to <a target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow" href="https://smartgrowthamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Foot-Traffic-Ahead-2023.pdf">a report published earlier this year</a> by Smart Growth America.Getting people to drive less or give up their parking spots is a serious challenge. And it requires messaging tailored to the specific community. In Switzerland, where urban planners are attempting to calm traffic in major cities, Superblocks would need to be rebranded to something more appealing, Eggimann said."The name doesn't work because no one wants to be super and live in blocks," he said.

The key to solving loneliness and pollution might be giving up cars and hanging out in the street. It's working in Barcelona.

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Singapore is trying to fight rising temperatures partly by making its buildings greener, literally.</li><li>This involves covering rooftops and vertical facades with gardens.</li></ul>As the world heats up — and the urban <a href="https://www.epa.gov/green-infrastructure/reduce-urban-heat-island-effect#:~:text=%22Urban%20heat%20islands%22%20occur%20when,heat%2Drelated%20illness%20and%20mortality." target="_blank" rel="noopener">built environment makes things worse</a> — Singapore is at the leading edge of efforts to cool cities.The hot and humid city-state is among the most densely populated in the world, and it's seeing its temperatures <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrQ9zjvmD6k" target="_blank" rel="noopener">rise particularly quickly</a>. The country approaches this task in various ways — from designing buildings to facilitate airflow to painting rooftops with reflective coats. One central strategy is to literally make the city greener by covering rooftops and the facades of buildings with plants.Cities often suffer from the <a href="https://climate.mit.edu/explainers/urban-heat-islands" target="_blank" rel="noopener">urban heat-island effect</a>, when the built environment makes cities hotter than neighboring rural areas. Buildings and asphalt absorb heat, while cars and other vehicles emit even more heat, and a lack of greenery in cities exacerbates the issues. Plants cool buildings and cities by absorbing sunlight, creating shade, and releasing water that cools the air. Of course, they also absorb carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas that contributes to the climate crisis. Under its Skyrise Greenery Incentive Scheme, Singapore pays property owners up to 50% of the cost of installing green rooftops and facades. This amounts to up to $200 a square meter for roofs and $500 a square meter for vertical plantings, <a href="https://skyrisegreenery.nparks.gov.sg/incentive-scheme/about/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according to the government</a>.The greenery also reduces buildings' carbon footprint and saves property owners on air conditioning and other energy costs. And the green buildings can attract tourists looking to <a href="https://www.alajode.com/ecotourism-in-singapore/#7-8-explore-singapore%E2%80%99s-green-buildings-" target="_blank" rel="noopener">patronize eco-friendly businesses</a>. <div type="image" title="Singapore's three-towered Marina Bay Sands Hotel has plantings on its balconies." height="640" width="1280" msid="103790582" hostid="261" sizebytes="114272"></div>Many of these plant-covered structures have received international attention. One skyscraper that opened in Singapore last year has <a href="https://www.cnn.com/style/article/capitaspring-singapore-skyscraper-biophilic/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">more than 80,000 trees and plants</a> on it. The city-state's Nanyang Technological University has <a href="https://projects.archiexpo.com/project-23031.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">been celebrated</a> for its green roofs. And <a href="https://www.archivibe.com/kampung-admiralty-by-woha-wins-world-building-of-the-year-award-at-world-architecture-festival-2018/#:~:text=Architecture%20Festival%202018-,Kampung%20Admiralty%20by%20WOHA%20wins%20World%20Building%20of%20the,at%20World%20Architecture%20Festival%202018&amp;text=Our%20congratulations%20goes%20to%20WOHA,their%20Kampung%20Admiralty%20in%20Singapore!" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a mixed-used complex with extensive green roofs won</a> the 2018 World Architecture Festival's award for building of the year. This is all part of Singapore's decadeslong effort to <a href="https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/history/events/a7fac49f-9c96-4030-8709-ce160c58d15c" target="_blank" rel="noopener">become the "Garden City."</a> Its <a href="https://www.greenplan.gov.sg/targets" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Green Plan 2030</a> sets out a series of ambitious environmental goals, including doubling the rate at which trees are planted between 2020 and 2030, making at least <a href="https://wedocs.unep.org/bitstream/handle/20.500.11822/34976/SGB.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">80% of its buildings green</a>, and creating 200 hectares of green roofs by 2030. Singapore is also investing in a network of "green corridors," streets lined thickly with trees that also help to provide shade and moisture, naturally air conditioning the city. Some <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2019/06/03/health/green-roofs-singapore-buses-intl/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">public buses</a> have even adopted green roofs.Singapore is not the only place investing heavily in planting more greenery to reduce temperatures and boost energy efficiency. The city of Basel, Switzerland, has been incentivizing green roof construction since the 1990s, and as of 2019, it had <a href="https://climate-adapt.eea.europa.eu/en/metadata/case-studies/green-roofs-in-basel-switzerland-combining-mitigation-and-adaptation-measures-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">more green roof space per capita</a> than any place on earth. Toronto <a href="https://www.canadianarchitect.com/canadian-precedent-spurs-green-roof-legislation-for-new-york-city/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">passed a law in 2009</a> requiring that buildings of a certain size have green roofs.

Why so many buildings in Singapore are covered in plants

Nestled in the heart of the majestic Himalayas, <keyword id="20406432" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="sarahan" source="keywords">Sarahan</keyword> in Himachal Pradesh is a picturesque destination that offers a perfect blend of natural beauty, rich cultural heritage, and spiritual significance. This charming town, often referred to as the "<keyword id="20406434" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Gateway-to-Kinnaur" source="Orion">Gateway to Kinnaur</keyword>," is home to some incredible attractions that make it a must-visit destination for travelers seeking a unique and offbeat experience. Here are the top must-visit destinations in Sarahan: 1. <keyword id="9038496" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bhima-Kali-Temple" source="Orion">Bhima Kali Temple</keyword>: The Bhima Kali Temple stands as a testament to the rich cultural and architectural heritage of Sarahan. Dedicated to the goddess Bhimakali, this ancient temple is a stunning example of Indo-Tibetan architecture. Surrounded by deodar forests and snow-capped peaks, the temple's intricate wooden carvings and vibrant colors make it a visual delight. The annual Bhimakali Fair attracts pilgrims and tourists alike, adding a festive charm to the town. 2. Sarahan Bird Park: For nature enthusiasts and bird lovers, the Sarahan Bird Park is a hidden gem. Located near the Bhima Kali Temple, this park is home to a variety of exotic bird species, including Himalayan Monals, pheasants, and eagles. Birdwatchers will find themselves captivated by the vibrant plumage and melodious calls echoing through the serene surroundings. 3. Shri Raghunathji Temple: Situated on a hill overlooking Sarahan, the Shri Raghunathji Temple offers panoramic views of the surrounding valleys and mountains. Dedicated to Lord Rama, this temple is an architectural marvel with its wooden structure and intricate carvings. The peaceful ambiance and stunning vistas make it an ideal spot for meditation and spiritual contemplation. 4. Shrikhand Mahadev Peak: Adventure seekers and trekkers should not miss the opportunity to conquer the Shrikhand Mahadev Peak. This challenging trek takes you through dense forests, alpine meadows, and snow-clad landscapes. The summit rewards trekkers with breathtaking views of the Himalayan ranges, making it a memorable and rewarding experience. 5. Sarahan Pheasantry: The Sarahan Pheasantry is a conservation center dedicated to the breeding and protection of the endangered Monal Pheasant. Visitors can witness these vibrant birds in a semi-natural environment. The center plays a crucial role in preserving the biodiversity of the region and educating the public about the importance of wildlife conservation. 6. Bhaba Valley: Nature lovers can explore the enchanting Bhaba Valley, known for its lush greenery, meandering rivers, and alpine landscapes. The Bhaba Valley trek is a delightful journey that takes you through quaint villages, apple orchards, and terraced fields, providing a glimpse into the local way of life. Sarahan, with its rich cultural tapestry and breathtaking landscapes, beckons travelers seeking an escape from the hustle and bustle of urban life. Whether you're drawn to ancient temples, diverse birdlife, or challenging treks, Sarahan has something to offer for everyone. Embrace the serenity and charm of this Himalayan gem as you explore its top must-visit destinations and create memories that will last a lifetime. Note: The article is based on content generated by AI models like Bard and Chatgpt.

You Searched For "urban greenery" and got 11 results

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