Bye Bye Batavia, Hullo Palangka Raya
Indonesia will shift its capital from Jakarta to the heart of Borneo for environmental reasons. Down To Earth finds that this isn't the first …
Infographic: Sanitation & waste in Indian cities
Indian urban households lack access to safe sanitation facilities. This includes eight capital cities
World Cities Day: Clock ticking for India’s urban areas; act now, say experts
The time has come for active policies to make sustainable modes work for all income levels, they say
World Water Day Special: Making a case for water-sensitive cities
Depinder Kapur, Director, Water Programme, CSE in conversation with Sukanya Nair, Media Resource Centre, CSE
Summer had not even begun when these Indian cities imposed water cuts
Down To Earth lists some prominent cities that have resorted to water rationing in the absence of any alternate sources
Heavy metals emerging as potential threat to public health on urban beaches: Study
The research authors emphasised the necessity of regular pollutant monitoring in the marine environment
Small cities win big on waste management
When it comes to managing their waste, small cities are showing the way through key policies and strict monitoring
India, not yet a safe country for cyclists
On World Bicycle Day (June 3), let's emphasise the fact that cycling as a mode of travel can only pick up in India only when the 'smart cities' …
Obituary: Sujit Patwardhan, India’s sustainable urban transport champion
Patwardhan founded Parisar in the 1980s out of concern for the rapid changes taking place in Pune leading to environmental degradation
Nigeria’s cities are growing fast: Family planning must be part of urban development plans
Urban poverty that already afflicts 42% of urban residents in Nigeria is set to rise
Africa’s free trade area offers promise for cities – but only if there’s investment
Rapid urbanisation, with an estimated 900 million people set to enter African cities in the next 30 years, creates a large upcoming consumer pool
Why cities are focal areas to address climate change
Cities play a crucial source of innovation, solutions and opportunities to improve the lives of people
Book Excerpt: Tenochtitlan is testament to the Aztecs’ urban development skills
Stefan Rinke’s ‘Conquistadors and Aztecs’ dispels the myth that the Spanish conquered the Aztecs easily or simply
Urbanisation to cause huge loss of prime farmland: UNCCD
Between 1.6 and 3.3 million hectares of such land could be lost by 2030, estimates the United Nations Convention to combat Desertification report
When water is no longer limitless
Day Zeroes are inevitable unless cities innovate, diversify supply sources and emphasise on the judicious use of water
World Cities Day: How humans and robots can co-exist in cities
Robots are taking on more tasks in the world’s cities but create more challenges for policymakers
India’s first census of waterbodies is a much awaited one but experts question the methodology; here is why
There is confusion regarding the definition of waterbodies used; there are also discrepancies about whether waterbodies are in rural or …
Can India’s cities accommodate climate migrants?
Our urban areas need to have appropriate development policies and programmes to accommodate those displaced by climate change
Is the house sparrow out of the woods?
The house sparrow declined in urban India in the last two decades; however, conservation efforts might have just stopped its journey to extinction
Tourism provides an opportunity for rural areas to reposition themselves, stem depopulation: Sandra Carvao
Down To Earth speaks with Sandra Carvao from the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), on its unique initiative
Why not all urban foxes deserve their ‘bin-raiding’ reputation
Foxes are ecologically important to urban green spaces, so people need to find ways of living amicably alongside them
Road to cool cities: Codes based on unique ‘urban form’ can be helpful
Urban India is a heat trap, but road orientation, building materials and zone-specific master plans can drastically enhance thermal comfort
Financial inclusion critical for building sustainable Indian cities
Financial inclusion not just a matter of economic growth, but also of social justice and ensuring sustainability
How to resolve Karnataka water crisis
At the peak of Karnataka’s water crisis, the state’s deputy chief minister, G Parameshwara, made a desperate suggestion. He said the …
How to deal with extreme heat: Move beyond emergency mode
In an era of global warming, if India’s cities are to continue as centres for economic opportunities, they will have to move away from …