In cities dominated by globalised market forces, how can we achieve social equity and justice? For any sharing economy idea, we need to ask what will it do to fix the big problems confronting us all.
Academic rigor, journalistic flair
Sustainable living – Analysis and Comment
Would you be shocked by a supermarket without carrots, potatoes or broccoli, at any time of year? But harvesting in the off-season does serious damage to our soil.
New South Wales is the only state that has made meaningful progress on legislation and enforcement of standards capable of creating a sustainable built environment.
New research has found a marked increase in people, particularly among women over 50, who are building or want to build a tiny house. However, inflexible planning rules often stand in their way.
Urban residents are increasingly keen to farm verges, parks, rooftops and backyards, but planning rules sometimes stand in the way.
City dwellers are individually starting to do their bit to live sustainably. Now pioneering businesses are aiming to make ecological and social sustainability part of their bottom line.
Australia’s GPI, a broad measure of national wellbeing, has stalled since 1974. So what has been the point of huge population and GDP growth since then if we and our environment are no better off?
Tokyo has experienced extraordinary population growth but is among the world’s most liveable cities. Just how has it managed the pressures of growth?
Achieving the goal of sustainable cities depends on rolling back the market after decades of privatisation and deregulation.
Could building small affordable dwellings be a part of the solution?
If infrastructure is to meet the needs and challenges of an uncertain future, we need to move beyond the AAA ratings mindset and aim for net-positive social and ecological outcomes as well.
Your cup of coffee might cost the world more than you think, but a little knowledge goes a long way if you want to make an eco-friendly choice.
Smart cities are usually optimised like a business for speed and efficiency. Placemaking can slow down cities to improve health and wellbeing and promote more democratic engagement of citizens.
Over-consumption of food is bad for the planet and unhealthy for humans.
It’s all about controlling the yuck factor.
The four scenarios in the WEF’s 2017 food report paint a bleak picture. But there are better ways.
Information is assumed to be key to changing people’s attitudes and behaviour. Sadly this isn’t the case.
Our cities need to become much more efficient not just to conserve precious resources but to improve the economy, wellbeing and resilience to environmental change and disasters.
Conventional leather is fraught with ethical and environmental issues. But leather grown from fermented kombucha tea offers consumers a glimpse of a DIY, sustainable future.
Emerging research challenges the idea that sustainable housing is unaffordable. It shows sustainability and good design can be affordable when analyses include social, health and wellbeing benefits.
Edo, which gave rise to Tokyo, was also the world’s largest city three centuries ago. Facing ecological collapse, Edo developed a culture and practices that supported sustainable living.
A study has revealed shoppers’ harsh attitudes to those who prefer to buy ethical fashion. But the headlines will only entrench the divide.
The ‘linear economy’ that drove 20th-century leaps in wealth is no longer sustainable, and our standard of living will not survive without a dramatic redesign.
What does your vision of a sustainable future look like? Some people imagine a world where technology solves the world’s most pressing environmental problems.
Not all ecovillages are created equal - but the best ones show us how to live more sustainably, by embracing collectivism, sourcing renewable energy, and moving away from prevailing consumer culture.