The Big Picture

Exploring the trends shaping our modern cities through a curated collection of articles and op-eds

Mexico Redefines the Right to Safe Mobility

Fév 23, 2022

Establishing a national right to safe mobility grounded on sustainability and social justice principles By Claudio Sarmiento-Casas At 28 years old, Emmanuel Vara worked as the director of mobility for the fifth largest city in Mexico. His appointment in such a key position of his city’s local government was not undeserved, having previously worked in…

A Roadmap For Cities in 2022

Déc 01, 2021

Discover community-led solutions to some of our most pressing urban challenges:  Action for Community Wellbeing: Developing Affordable Housing and Small Businesses By Julie Rusk and Tara Barauskas Mexico Redefines the Right to Safe Mobility By Claudio Sarmiento-Casas Housing supply and affordability is the most pressing challenge cities will face in the coming year, according to…

Urban Farming: Growing Healthier Communities

Juil 16, 2021

Urban Farming: Growing Healthier Communities Where was your last meal grown? Most of us who live in urban areas don’t have a simple answer to that question; our plates are often filled with produce harvested from all corners of the globe. Our global food network and supply chains are vulnerable systems. As our planet warms and the…

The Circular Economy of Floating Farms

Juil 16, 2021

BY PETER VAN WINGERDEN July 19, 2021 In May 2019, we opened the world’s first Floating Farm in the Port of Rotterdam. Since then, we’ve had 40 cows producing healthy milk and organic manure. Let me tell you about it. Why the Floating Farm? Our planet is under tremendous strain and we are (in) directly…

Towards a Local and Sustainable Food System

Juil 15, 2021

BY RENZO MOROSI July 19, 2021   As part of its new Climate Action Plan 2050, the City of Buenos Aires will implement urban agricultural programs to transition the city towards a sustainable, nutritious food system. Urban areas are responsible for 70% of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG), positioning cities as key players in the battle…

Grow Food, Grow Gardeners, Grow Community

Juil 15, 2021

BY MAYOR LISA HELPSJuly 19, 2021 For the last five years, Victoria City Council has been taking action to address food insecurity and help ensure access to healthy affordable food for those who need it most. So we had a strong foundation to respond quickly when the pandemic hit. We also had history on our…

How FoodShare Is Growing Food Justice in Toronto

Juil 15, 2021

BY PAUL TAYLORJuly 19, 2021 In Canada, everyone has a right to food. Not the right to wait in line for canned green beans from a food bank, or the right to a hamper packed with someone else’s leftovers—but the right for every person to feed themselves and their communities with joy and dignity. This…

Whose City at Stake? Reflections on a Pandemic Year

Mar 17, 2021

By Greg Lindsay, NewCities  It has been a year since the pause on urban-life-as-we-know-it across much of the Global North. A year since the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic, since the day the NBA suspended play, since New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio told New Yorkers — in a moment of either…

Sourcing Sound as Information

Nov 02, 2020

City sounds are not often considered a friend, but more of a nuisance to be reduced or even cancelled. As citizens, we tend to forget that, “we constantly rely on sounds to interact with our environment and plan our actions,” as Catherine Guastavino and Daniel Steele remind us in “What Should the City Sound Like?”…

What Should the City Sound Like?

Oct 23, 2020

Why The Pursuit of Quiet Isn‘t Working We constantly rely on sounds to interact with our environment and plan our actions, be it to avoid an approaching car, attend to a crying baby, or answer a ringing phone. Certain sounds orient, comfort, or excite us while others distract or annoy us. Calm sound environments can…

The Soundtrack to Our Cities

Oct 22, 2020

Do you listen to your city? Whether it’s a bird chirping on a neighborhood street, a train passing through town, or a car honking its horn, our auditory senses play a huge role in how we experience and navigate an urban environment. Focusing on the soundscape of cities can unlock this often forgotten layer of…