In the post-war years, the Metabolists made big plans for Tokyo Bay to relieve the pressure on the Japanese capital. Now there's another plan, called Next Tokyo 2045. Herbert Wright explains that these have not been the only visionary proposals. In reality, the city has been gradually encroaching on the Bay for centuries, and the big plans that materialise are mainly infrastructure.
The idea of empowering city governments is a thrown around a lot these days in urbanite circles. But where should the line between local and higher levels of government begin and end? Alia Dharssi reports on the debate.
A well-planned response to the unprecedented expansion of cities may hold the key to responding to climate change and other challenges of the 21st century.
New financial institutions and instruments have made it easy for large building owners to retrofit their properties
The C40 has pushed through major agreements with the Clinton Foundation and the World Bank. But what are the real purposes of these agreements and where does this put cities on the world stage?
The clear strategies employed by the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group to exchange lessons and best practices on climate change action between mayors provide a great lesson in knowing what one can really achieve, in order to fully achieve it.
Rowan Fraser is an urban development and management specialist, focusing on urban resilience. He works in countries across Asia.
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The Global Urbanist is an online magazine reviewing urban affairs and urban development issues in cities throughout the developed and developing world.
Its readers are drawn from the urban policy and international development sectors, and include urban planners, officers in local, national or international government agencies, civil society leaders, and researchers.
