I was recently in Bangkok for a meeting of the Montreal Protocol (governing substances that deplete the ozone layer) held at the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific campus. The weeklong event meant my exposure to this city of 7 million was limited to the areas between the UN campus… Read More Bangkok: hustle, bustle and unexpected secrets
In March I submitted my PhD, entitled, Urban Climate Governance: The Role of Local Authorities. To celebrate, I took a spontaneous trip to Hanoi, Vietnam – booking a ticket on a Friday to leave that Sunday. Admittedly extravagant, it was a lovely way to celebrate such a milestone. I’ve always been enchanted by images of Vietnamese landscapes, and with… Read More Hanoi: synergy in chaos
On 13 and 14 February 2015, representatives from 450 cities in 60 countries marched, sang, danced, cycled and otherwise celebrated Global Divestment Day, making a public statement to encourage or proclaim to divest from fossil fuels. Amsterdam was one of those cities, showing off a little planetary love at this Valentines Day event. What is divestment?… Read More Fossil free divestment: coming to a city near you
In London (population circa 8.5 million) its residents are always be on the go, taking off to the next destination on one of its double-decker buses, in its beeping taxis, in private cars or swerving through the city on its growing population of city bikes. While these bicycles are a happy site in this massive city,… Read More London Underground Repurposed: Hello Tube Cycle
How cool is it to be a passenger on the bus? Cool enough to date Ms. Uruguay apparently and have loads of fans anticipating your every move. Leave it to the Danish bus company, Midtraffik, to prove not just how cool taking the bus is – but also how cool the passengers that ride the… Read More Get cool. Ride the bus.
I’m a child of late summer evenings, but equally a fan of the coming autumn chill. The air is crisper, justifying the second (or third) cup of lazy morning coffee waiting for the sun to show itself and warm the day. I love wool and eagerly await the chance to pull my favourite sweaters out… Read More Utrecht in high heels: kayaking through history and seasons
The Swedish capital is a vast and varied city – in addition to being exceptionally beautiful. Palaces, stately buildings and impressive museums, allude to Stockholm’s role in history and current affairs. Narrow cobbled streets, flanked by ancient brick buildings painted in warm pastels, wind through Gamlastan (Old Town) inviting locals or visitors for a quick… Read More Stockholm Urban Nature: city of water, city of parks, city of seasons
I’ve formerly boasted of my roof terrace garden in Amsterdam – growing and harvesting fresh herbs, salads and berries from spring, through summer, and into the autumn. My roof terrace offers the opportunity to connect to local food production while living in the city. I’m not the only one who enjoys rooftop gardening. Some of the… Read More Skyscraper farming: roof gardens in Beijing, New York, Hong Kong & Montreal
Last summer I visited Paris’s latest and greatest public space project, Les Berges, located on the banks of the River Seine. I recently returned to Paris and was curious to see how it looks, one year later. Les Berges continues to amaze me: 2.3 kilometers of former roadway are now dedicated as public space, featuring bars… Read More Paris: The Les Berges public space project, equally impressive a year later
In August 2014, I met 3 French agronomy students from Montpellier University cycling through Europe to examine urban agriculture trends and innovations. We met to discuss Amsterdam’s Food Vision and to visit the garden I volunteer in (Curious Finch). While I don’t usually write about travel stories (save for urban interesting planning/ sustainability strategies…) their story is inspiring and I wanted to… Read More Euro-cycling, urban agriculture and an adventure of a lifetime…
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