Kampala, Kigali and Addis Ababa are changing fast: New book follows their distinct paths

Book explains why attempting to supplant models from urban development elsewhere, including “best practices”, will not work

Simple Put: The green activist vs the greed activist

High time to move away from the master plan approach for Indian cities

Initiatives such as GIS-based master & development plans for 500 AMRUT cities are encouraging but we are still far behind

Urban commons

Down to Earth reaches out to experts to understand the scope and limitations of reimagining urban commons

Simply Put: Home, sweet new Home

Accra is congested, but relocating Ghana’s capital is not the only option

Accra could keep its political role, but some of its facilities and services should be distributed around the country

Simply Put : Ahmedabad wall

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  

Bihar plans policy change to push urbanisation

The state government has prepared a draft seeking changes to ‘old criteria’ for notifying semi-urban or rural area as urban 

A creative challenge: Designing proposals of 19 waterbodies in Faridabad

The project offered us an opportunity to bring substantial change through our work to the local environment and the lives of people living around …

COVID-19: We’re in a real-time laboratory of a more sustainable urban future

After coronavirus, a key question emerges: What in essence is a city for? There is a need to look at permanent urban policy choices to make …

Daily Court Digest: Major environment orders (February 8, 2024)

Down To Earth brings you the top environmental cases heard in Supreme Court, high courts & National Green Tribunal  

SC declines to designate Joshimath crisis a national disaster; redirects petitioner to HC

We don’t want anyone to use these proceedings only for sound bytes for social media, SC said

Simply Put: World Cities Day

In Telangana’s Badanpet, a dumpsite turns into a rock garden, nursery

As of now, this nursery is self-reliant in supplying saplings for horticultural purposes, park development, road median development, greening and …

Cities will be too hot to live in future, says new UNEP report

There is a need for a strategic, whole-system approach that realises sustainable urban cooling or rather sustainable urban comfort

Can COVID-19 inspire a new way of planning African cities?

Colonial use of planning for cultural and structural isolation, as well as for socio-economic and spatial segregation, limited Africa’s …

Environment in elections: Natural disasters overlooked in Himachal Pradesh poll campaigns

Environmental issues at bottom of both major political parties’ manifestos for June 1 elections, but not discussed in speeches

Budget 2023-24: What can it offer for the development of Indian cities?

Strengthening urban local bodies & capacities of citizens, communities key for sustainable development of Indian cities

Recommendations on solid waste management: How govt action falls short

The standing committee on urban development made 37 recommendations, 14 of which were accepted by the Union government

Can COVID-19 pandemic help India foster rural livelihoods and build resilient villages?

The shift of balance created by COVID-19 has revealed that urban centres, while important, need not be the sole creator of jobs or economic …

Urban form and travel to completely change after COVID-19

Central business districts will decline while larger apartments will be in demand as more firms consider making employees work-from-home, a …

Most in Asia-Pacific already in cities; expect 3.5 bln by 2015

Urban boom will be despite declines in Japan, China, Korea

10 years of Delhi gang rape: 70% of released Nirbhaya Funds utilised, Lok Sabha told

Region-wise disparities in fund utilisation; Conviction rate in crimes against women continues to remain abysmal 

Cities in the time of COVID-19

The current scenario underscores the need to make cities adapt and respond to threats through effective planning