In developed countries, after decades of high-pollution landfill practices, waste collection and waste treatment systems have moved toward the recovery of materials (recycling and re-use) and of energy (incineration). These less polluting activities have made our trash a profitable industry with excellent market expectations, consequently attracting energy multinationals and recycling companies, as well as mafia groups. …
The 20th century has seen the explosion of megalopolises around the globe. Cities have attracted and concentrated a massive number of people, generating new problems of management and creating huge challenges not only for the public sector – in managing limited resources – but also for the private sector by pushing companies to promote continuous …
Alongside the green areas that need to be added in big cities to make them more livable and sustainable, producing food in cities is essential in terms of food security. Urban farmers can produce locally and spend less on transportation, packaging and storage, and sell directly to local markets with fresher products at competitive prices. …
In recent decades, a series of economic and demographic changes transformed our living landscapes and lifestyles. Today over 54% of the world population lives in urban areas, while in the 1960s two thirds of the world population was living in rural environments. Considering geo-economic disparities, developed countries tend to be more urbanized than developing countries, although poorer …
Mobile participation is about citizen’s participation in different aspects of urban governance using mobile technology, smartphones or tablets. Citizens can participate in decision making using mobile apps that they can download and install on their phones or tablets. This represents a real innovation in electronic participation. The main idea of citizens’ participation is that every decision matters …