urban planning

The head of the UN Environment Programme says a lack of finance is the main obstacle to deploying solutions that help communities withstand extreme heat. The warning comes as heatwaves intensify worldwide, and it puts pressure on governments and lenders to fund adaptation measures such as cooling infrastructure and urban planning before the next severe heat season.

The head of the UN Environment Programme says financing is the main obstacle to rolling out solutions that help communities cope with extreme heat. The warning comes as heatwaves intensify worldwide, with measures such as cooling systems, urban shading and early-warning plans available but underfunded. The comments underline growing pressure on governments and donors to direct more money toward climate adaptation.

The Haryana government plans to develop five new Singapore-styled smart cities along the KMP Expressway, aiming to ease congestion across the National Capital Region. The announcement is drawing attention for its ambition to decongest Delhi's surroundings and attract investment, with observers weighing in on the state's urban development push and comparisons to Singapore's city planning model.

As artificial intelligence data centers grow larger and increasingly cluster together in cities, they release significant amounts of hot air into surrounding neighborhoods, creating a new environmental and planning challenge. The waste heat adds to urban heat island effects, raising questions about where these facilities should be built and how cities will manage the extra warmth as AI infrastructure expands.

Seoul is moving to remove regulatory obstacles so delivery robots can operate and park inside apartment complexes. The plan would allow autonomous robots to deliver food, parcels and groceries directly to residents' doors in South Korea's high-density housing, where such machines are currently restricted. It signals the city's push to accelerate commercial robotics services in everyday urban life.

London's schools are running short of pupils, according to a Financial Times report gaining attention online. Falling birth rates and families leaving the capital are leaving classrooms under capacity, raising questions about school closures, funding and planning as demand shifts. Commenters are debating whether the trend reflects housing costs and changing family patterns.

A Brazil de Fato column from the Observatório das Metrópoles São Paulo nucleus argues that the production of the city should be democratized, focusing on housing, popular participation and the revitalization of downtown Santos. It discusses how residents can take part in decisions over land use and housing policy in the city center.

Cairo is considering turning part of its historic downtown into an entertainment district as city officials push to expand nightlife. The plan would concentrate bars, cafes, and cultural venues in the city center, signaling a shift in how the Egyptian capital manages its evening economy and public spaces.

Rochester is preparing to make its streets more pedestrian friendly, working street by street to improve walkability. Separately, a Rochesterian is discussing space travel, a future beyond Earth, and the experience of weightlessness. The items are scheduled to air as upcoming segments on local news, pairing an urban-planning story with a conversation about humanity's future in space.

Prosper Portland's executive director discussed the agency's plans to revitalize downtown Portland. The remarks come as the city continues working to bring workers, visitors and businesses back to its urban core after years of vacancies and slow recovery. Details of the proposals and their reception were not immediately clear.

The Downtown Dova development is set to go before the Rancho Cordova planning commission for review. The project would be a significant addition to the Sacramento-area suburb's push to build out a more urban downtown core, and local business and civic observers are watching how commissioners respond to the proposal at the upcoming hearing.