Cities
Devastating Beijing floods test China’s ‘sponge cities’
Despite Beijing’s sponge city project, the capital was overwhelmed by recent floods with dozens dying and a new “sponge airport” shut down
Cooling towers, fake snow: What the Beijing Winter Olympics says about climate change
The spectacle of fake snow and an old steel mill’s cooling towers has sparked climate debate among Olympics-watchers
Covid exposes Mexico City’s water access gap between rich and poor
The coronavirus pandemic lays bare the impact of Mexico City’s mounting water crisis on vulnerable households, while gated communities enjoy reliable supplies
It will take more than a few cycle lanes to make green, pandemic-proof cities
The coronavirus lockdown gave a glimpse of what cleaner cities can look like, but as people turn to private cars for safety from infection, pollution could soar
Addis Ababa riverside project gives priority to development over residents
Ethiopia wants $900 million riverside project to be a model of green development – yet one resident says shelters were demolished ‘without warning’
Car boom brings gridlock misery to ‘green and happy’ Bhutan
Bhutan’s growing economy brings growing gridlock – and a potential threat to the country’s vaunted carbon-negative status
Two million in Zimbabwe’s capital have no water as city turns off taps
‘The situation is bad, period’, says spokesman for Harare council, as suburbs go weeks without water and cases of typhoid are reported
Trains deliver emergency water to drought-hit Chennai
Millions of people are experiencing water shortages as Chennai’s reservoirs are running dry and other sources of water are dwindling
EU ‘climate leaders’ plans found lacking
Finland, Sweden, Portugal, France and Germany praised for ambitious targets, but NGO analysis raises questions over details
New York City bans inefficient glass skyscrapers, WA state to end coal
New York mayor announces sweeping climate change programme, while Washington’s power will be carbon-neutral by 2030
