Environment
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Bioplhilia and the need to fill our cities with nature.
Biophilia refers to the innate human tendency to seek connections with nature and other living beings. It reflects the inherent bond humans have with the natural world, which positively impacts both our physical and mental health.
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Hedonistic Sustainability: Building a SolarPunk City
The real value of the SolarPunk movement has always been in making a sustainable future look desirable. No one is going to buy into the idea of a sustainable future if it looks like a worse version of the world we live in right now. So if we are to build sustainable cities, they really…
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Participatory Urbanism: A beginners guide
I recently did a speech to my local Rotary Club about a Participatory Urbanism project I am working on. To my surprise, the audience appeared equally interested in the whole Participatory Urbanism concept, as much as the project itself. So I thought it would be good to put together a quick explainer, which I can…
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Building a Sustainable home in the Australian Outback
In 2024 Anika Molesworth and her partner set out to build a family home in a remote part of New South Wales. They were looking to create, in Anika’s words, “something comfortable, a beautiful space that complemented the land, and a house that doesn’t cost the planet.” That was the mission. But after speaking with various builders,…
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Moving from an Egosystem to an Ecosystem
In an Egosystem, the individual is seen as the centre of the universe. Success is defined solely by personal achievement, and the value of community, empathy, and shared prosperity are all relegated to the background. The Egosystem is a world view where people are encouraged to compete at all costs, accumulate wealth for themselves, and…
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African’s quiet energy and environmental revolution
A quiet revolution is underway in Africa that appears to be going mostly unnoticed by the rest of the world. A green revolution in energy, transport and regeneration. A revolution that has the potential to unlock A Wonderful Green Future for the people of Africa.
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Let’s use the word ReGrowth, not degrowth
We know the word degrowth is unappealing, thanks to loss aversion theory.0 Loss aversion theory refers to a cognitive bias in which a situation is perceived as worse if it is framed as a loss, rather than a gain. Losses tend to be treated as if they were twice as large as an equivalent gain.…
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Transforming Lawrence Weston, Bristol, With the Power of Community
This inspiring video came to my attention recently and I felt it really deserved a blog post. For a while I have been thinking about writing a series of posts called “People who got stuff done, and how.” As the name suggests, it was going to be a collection of inspiring stories about Community Lead…
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St. George Rainway: From Vision to Vibrant Community Space
The St. George Rainway in Vancouver is a wonderful fusion of community-driven initiatives and innovative urban design. What began as a vision to transform an underutilised space into a vibrant corridor has evolved into a dynamic area that enhances both the environment and the local community. The St. George Rainway was first envisioned by a…
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Kigali’s Bold Move: Phasing Out Petrol-Powered Motorcycles
This is another great story from Africa. Kigali, the capital of Rwanda, has announced a plan to phase out petrol-powered motorcycle taxis, starting January 2025. Petrol-powered motorbike taxis account for about 20% of all trips in Rwanda’s capital and significantly contribute to air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. Electrifying motorcycle taxis offer many benefits. Zero…
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Embracing a Net Zero Future: Transforming Australian Regional Communities
Following on from my Net Zero Cities Infographic, I thought I would knock up another one for Regional Communities, with a focus on Australia. As Australia moves towards a Net Zero future, regional communities stand on the brink of a transformative era. This shift promises not only environmental benefits but also significant economic opportunities that…
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Business and nature to reap rewards from circular urban spaces
Transforming how European towns and cities are built is key to unlocking massive economic, environmental and social benefits by 2035, according to a new report by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation.
Our Wonderful Green Future 