Reminder: in Ukraine, innocent civilians continue to be killed every day by Russian drone, cruise-missile, and ballistic-missile attacks. For 1321 days, Ukraine has been fighting for its survival, for democracy, and for the right to self-determination. In Ukraine, Europe’s freedom is being defended.

Another great starter pack—highly recommended. It’s worth noting that more of us need to work on multiple important issues simultaneously. Making a city more walkable isn’t just placemaking; it also improves mental health, combats loneliness epidemic, reduces crime, AND helps tackle #climatechange.

AI 2027 depicts a possible future where artificial intelligence radically transforms the world in just a few intense years. It’s based on detailed expert forecasts — but how much of it will actually happen? ai-2027.com

Concerning times indeed. This calls for a profound reframing of how we engage. Each of us can play a role in the great transition. What feels like a threat can become an invitation—to release outdated ideas & step into new possibility, purpose, & growth within a world shaped by perpetual change.

Reminder: in Ukraine, innocent civilians continue to be killed every day by Russian drone, cruise-missile, and ballistic-missile attacks. For 1321 days, Ukraine has been fighting for its survival, for democracy, and for the right to self-determination. In Ukraine, Europe’s freedom is being defended.

Okay, people need to think about what this entails. There are TONS of docs and redacting them is painstaking. And destroying actual evidence isn't like just walking files to the incinerator. And there are thousands and thousands of loyal DOJ and FBI staff who would rat out something like that.

Sadly for the South Park guys, the real man has now become far more grotesque than his cartoonish twin. Quo vadis, South Park?

Another great starter pack—highly recommended. It’s worth noting that more of us need to work on multiple important issues simultaneously. Making a city more walkable isn’t just placemaking; it also improves mental health, combats loneliness epidemic, reduces crime, AND helps tackle #climatechange.

The future is ours to imagine & create! Let’s move beyond our “scrap & build” mentality & transform existing, disused structures—like this abandoned stadium in Taiwan—into thriving permaculture community gardens. The inspiring example shows that everything has potential yield and can be repurposed.

Must watch! I hate to repeat myself, but why must the same story play out in every city? After COVID, car lobbies in Germany worked hard to undo pandemic-era progress. It’s encouraging that, in this case, the business community is actually leading the lobbyists by the nose.

SOMETHING NEW: Since SO MANY great new books on cities, city-building & urbanism have been published since I did my “Top 100” List back in 2013, on 100 (non-consecutive) days I’ll profile 100 NEWER BOOKS for the #UrbanismBookClub in THIS thread! Starting today (in no order), with “Messy Cities!” 1/

The future is ours to imagine & create! Let’s move beyond our “scrap & build” mentality & transform existing, disused structures—like this abandoned stadium in Taiwan—into thriving permaculture community gardens. The inspiring example shows that everything has potential yield and can be repurposed.

The same is true of Amsterdam, Copenhagen, and later Barcelona. These cities weren’t ‘naturally’ pedestrian or cycling havens—engaged citizens fought highway plans that local Robert Moses clones had proposed, and reform politicians & skilled planners transformed them into what they are today. #COP30

Nice reflection — and just in time for #COP30. What does it actually mean to live well? Do we need to mindlessly chase wealth, pleasure, and hedonism to find true happiness? No! According to philosopher Martha Nussbaum, the good life is instead grounded in human flourishing and mindful living.

“The worst environmental setback in Brazil's history” …dismantling environmental policies of decades; creating loopholes allowing high-impact projects to bypass essential (assessments), putting at risk entire river basins, biomes and communities depending on these territories for their livelihoods.

This was Alessandra Korap Munduruku this morning. She lives in the Brazilian state where COP is taking place this year! She was not given a pass into the Blue Zone. These are the voices you should be listening to, boosting, and celebrating. Not the politicians who are attending #COP30!

Depopulation, suburbanisation, and motorisation threaten rural Japan’s efficient public transit system. Smart solutions needed!

Japan’s growing bear problem: How depopulation and climate change are creating unanticipated and uniquely local challenges.

Limits to Growth. Remember?

A key premise is that learning's inherently social, while media consumption tends to be individualised. People also embrace new knowledge more readily when they feel they've discovered it for themselves. Thus, place-based, co-creative learning processes can offer a powerful pathway@ the local level.

Nice reflection — and just in time for #COP30. What does it actually mean to live well? Do we need to mindlessly chase wealth, pleasure, and hedonism to find true happiness? No! According to philosopher Martha Nussbaum, the good life is instead grounded in human flourishing and mindful living.

Must watch! I hate to repeat myself, but why must the same story play out in every city? After COVID, car lobbies in Germany worked hard to undo pandemic-era progress. It’s encouraging that, in this case, the business community is actually leading the lobbyists by the nose.

In 1978, German science journalist Hoimar von Ditfurth warned millions on national TV about the coming #climatecrisis. His daughter later co-founded the Green Party. We’ve known what’s coming—and what must be done—for nearly half a century. Yet we still can’t act decisively. What holds us back?

The most insanely frustrating thing about the #ClimateCrisis is how the breakthrough we so clearly need isn’t technological. It’s just a collective willingness, a determination even, to change in ways that would clearly be SO MUCH BETTER than the clear and obvious consequences of NOT changing.

One of a set of articles in @upejournal.bsky.social discussing my contributions to urban studies. Endlessly grateful!

Remember Marie Kondo? You can live happily with less. In Japan, architects are crafting tiny, thoughtful homes that prove small can be sustainable, affordable, and cool. Less space, less waste, more peace. Who dares to live happily with less? #Sustainability #COP30 youtu.be/z1t2c5rNldg?...

A global network of urbanists shaping the cities of tomorrow. From sustainability to resilience and fairness, we’re all tackling the same challenges—and we have so much to learn from each other. As climate change and other crises intensify, sharing ideas has never been more urgent.

The same is true of Amsterdam, Copenhagen, and later Barcelona. These cities weren’t ‘naturally’ pedestrian or cycling havens—engaged citizens fought highway plans that local Robert Moses clones had proposed, and reform politicians & skilled planners transformed them into what they are today. #COP30

Challenges are steep: tackling both #climatecrisis & systematic misinformation. “It didn’t happen by accident. Its the product of a deliberate & systematic assault on knowledge by some of the world’s richest people. Preventing climate breakdown means protecting ourselves from the storm of lies.”

“I think Paris is uniquely positioned to celebrate bold action from cities all over the world. Because in my observation Paris, and Mayor @annehidalgo.bsky.social, have been the most inspiring in the world over the last 10 years, really exemplifying those key words ‘further and faster.’” — BT

I think you’re right. It’s a change of mindset and finding new ways of living. They are often very positive.

If you want to find solutions you do....if you want to find excuses you find those too.

I wondered the same thing for a long time, then I listened to the drilled podcast and realized it is the oil and gas and other industries like the automotive industry that holds us back. They shape culture and manipulate us to not act. drilled.media/podcasts/dri...

I don't have much of problem with almost all those changes, and I'm fact I think a lot of that could be framed in a very positive way. Driving sucks, walking and biking can bring so much joy. Living a more community oriented life can help people feel less isolated and improve rhe sense of well-being

Different ways of living are possible, and are already taking place all over the world. They’re ways of love, kindness and joy. They’re quiet, humble, slow, small. They’re vital and restorative, regenerative and inclusive. I’m pledging to celebrate, support and amplify them. Will you join me?

This suggests that people in developed countries are, on average, living happy lives. But if so, why r mental-health issues spiking, anger increasing, health declining as we consume ever poorer food? Of course things r more complex. The mistake is to assume consumerism is automatically good for us.

Most dismaying is the lack of imagination. How sad to equate freedom for sitting alone in a private, movable metal cell—a.k.a. car—and then spend most time in a long row of these cells—a.k.a. traffic jam? And how many people r even truly noticing the few genuine freedoms that car can actually offer?

Katie Wilson on affordability, homelessness, good governance, and what socialism means. Happy for her and for our city, AND for NYC, the Working Families Party, and the glimmering of an alternative to corporate-capture of political parties. #EndCitizensUnited www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNvm...

There're more bike-friendly cities around U than U might think! I’d even add #Tokyo. True, official bike lanes are patchy& of very mixed quality, but many #unplanned streets naturally calm traffic or keep cars out entirely—creating real bike & pedestrian paradises. There's no real gov vision tho!

If You Want to Win, You’ve Got to Fight: Carter Lavin on Better Streets, Transit, and Communities. momentummag.com/if-you-want-...

This is wonderful! From #Tokyo, it’s almost endearing to see countries with complex, exclusionary zoning now wrestling with how to reintroduce even modest #diversity —while Japan’s emergent inclusive zoning never allowed local planners wield the sweeping control their Western peers held.

Sorry to repeat myself, but while climate-forward cities like Paris expand green space & plant trees, #Tokyo continues to fell trees in major parks, pave over vacant land, and redevelop even 30–40-year-old buildings. I sincerely hope Tokyo’s policymakers take inspiration from these global leaders.

Globally, local governments are stepping into the breach! #cosmopolitanLocalism “The second-biggest delegation after the Brazilians was the US one, with ~100 #mayors attending in defiance of the White House—no high-level members of the #Trump administration are expected to attend the #Cop30 talks.”

I biked two blocks over to my local train depot and picked this gem up from the independent bookshop therein. It was a good place to imagine a #LifeAfterCars. @thewaroncars.bsky.social

While many meet in good faith to address the #climatecrisis, those okay to exacerbate it continue to sabotage. “More than 1600 fossil fuel lobbyists have been granted access to the #Cop30 climate negotiations, significantly outnumbering every single country’s delegation apart from the host Brazil.”

A very powerful piece. So what do we do about it? Specifically how do we engage the movable middle to ACT about this toxic info system? @climatemajority.bsky.social

Outside of the major urban centres Japan is very much a low rise muddled environment. Marugame. July 2025. #urbangaze #photography @bskyphotos.bsky.social#urbangaze

Interesting development. In Japan, department stores have featured rooftop terraces with amusement rides, gardens, bandstands, and other recreational facilities regularly since the 1930s.

Sorry to repeat myself, but while climate-forward cities like Paris expand green space & plant trees, #Tokyo continues to fell trees in major parks, pave over vacant land, and redevelop even 30–40-year-old buildings. I sincerely hope Tokyo’s policymakers take inspiration from these global leaders.

Deeply unsettling! “America is pursuing regime change in Europe. The far-right candidate won yesterday's presidential election in Poland, thanks at least in part to help from the Trump regime. Centrist EU governments need to realise America wants them out.”