News
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New contest supported by Stephen M. Ross will recognize urban development initiatives that catalyze change
The Vessel, Hudson Yards, New York
NEW YORK (October 12, 2017) — Well over half of the world’s population lives in cities, and more than two-thirds will do so by the middle of this century. This trend will bring new possibilities as well as risks: cities can be drivers of opportunity, creativity and growth – or lead to more waste, pollution and suffering. The trajectory of many cities needs to change, spurred by transformative solutions that go beyond a single block or street. With the generous support of visionary business leader and philanthropist Stephen M.
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New WRI study presents solutions to help rapidly growing cities in the global south meet the energy access needs of all residents while achieving climate goals.
Powerlines line the neighborhood streets of Bucaramanga, Colombia. Photo by Adam Cohn/ Flickr
WASHINGTON, DC (September 7, 2017) — According to a new report from World Resources Institute’s Ross Center for Sustainable Cities, millions of residents in some of the fastest growing cities in the world don’t have access to clean, reliable energy, and the challenge of reaching them is not getting easier.
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New ways to link national resources with local priorities are needed
Dar es Salaam is fast on its way to becoming a megacity. Photo by Hendri Lombard/World Bank
WASHINGTON, DC (August 4, 2017) — Tanzania is undergoing a remarkable transformation. Its urban population is projected to grow from less than 15 million people in 2012 to more than 60 million people by mid-century.
Most of this growth will take place in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania’s cultural and economic hub. It’s fast on its way to becoming a megacity with a population projected to more than double from 4.4 million in 2012 to 10.8 million in 2030. Still, other cities like Mwanza and Dodoma are also projected to see major increases in population in the years ahead.
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New WRI study presents recommendations to help overcome the housing crisis in the global south
La Paz, Bolivia. Photo by Cliff Hellis/Flickr
WASHINGTON, DC (July 12, 2017) — According to a new report from World Resources Institute Ross Center for Sustainable Cities, 330 million households in cities around the world, equivalent to 1.2 billion people, do not have access to affordable and secure housing. Without immediate action, the problem will become even more critical, as this housing gap is projected to grow by 30 percent to 1.6 billion people by 2025.
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WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities Convened Urban Experts in Nairobi, Kenya for a Workshop on Equal Cities for All. Photo by Talia Rubnitz
NAIROBI, KENYA (June 28, 2017) — Can we have cities that grow sustainably while providing opportunity for all? At a workshop in Nairobi, WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities gathered stakeholders from across sub-Saharan Africa to help answer this question.
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Building Efficiency Accelerator staff at energy festival in Eskişehir-Sazova Park, Turkey. Photo by Eskişehir Metropolitan Municipality
ESKIŞEHIR, Turkey (June 7, 2017) — During World Environment Week earlier this month, WRI’s Building Efficiency Accelerator (BEA) led a series of innovative and youth-focused outreach events in Eskişehir-Sazova Park to spread information about energy efficiency and sustainability. More than 500 children, from 7 to 15 years old, played several efficiency-themed games to better understand the basic concepts of building efficiency and the opportunities to improve energy use in their own lives.
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The Building Efficiency Accelerator hosted a workshop in Eskişehir for 95 experts in the field to increase building knowledge and capacity. Photo by Gözde Çoban
ESKIŞEHIR, TURKEY (June 9, 2017) — The Building Efficiency Accelerator (BEA), with support from Eskişehir Metropolitan Municipality, hosted the first in a series of trainings on building energy efficiency in Eskişehir, Turkey. This training increased the capacity of local professionals in working with distributed district heating and cooling systems. The workshop convened 95 experts from local government, academia and the private sector.
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Nairobi City County, Kenya and four other entities join the Building Efficiency Accelerator. Photo by Ninara/Flickr
BROOKLYN, NEW YORK CITY (April 4, 2017)— Five new cities and districts have committed to improve their buildings by adopting new policies, demonstration projects and tracking progress against their goals. The cities join the Building Efficiency Accelerator (BEA), a public-private collaboration that now includes over 35 global organizations and 28 cities in 18 countries.
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Graphic by Nikhil Chaudhary.
WRI India's Nikhil Chaudhary is fighting to improve walkability in India through art. When the urban planner is not at the office, he is making comics and short films depicting pedestrian mobility struggles in cities that prioritize cars.
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WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities’ World TOD Resource Launches at ConnectKaro 2017 in New Delhi
Mumbai Road. Photo by Rasmus Lerdorf/ Flickr
The World Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Resource, an easily-accessible, web-based platform designed to educate policy-makers, planners and developers in the Global South about the benefits of TOD and equip them with tools for implementation, is now available to the public. Going beyond the traditional focus on urban design, the World TOD Resource includes a wide range of information about financing, institutional structures and practical implementation advice—in addition to design.