India is rapidly urbanising. However, the disparities that affect the poor and marginalised are glaring. Bijal and Chirayu Brahmbhatt discuss aspects of addressing these inequalities through women-led approaches towards a better future for all.
India's ClimateSmart Cities Assessment Framework empowers cities to tackle climate change. It's a progressive initiative with tangible actions that aims to improve the lives of citizens while building resilience to climate-related shocks.
India has a long tradition of building climate-friendly houses. But in the case of informal settlements, applying this knowledge presents many difficulties. This leads to intense heat stress for residents. However, there is hope on the horizon, as we highlight an exciting initiative: utilising innovative design solutions for thermal comfort in community buildings in Chennai and Coimbatore - an Urban Living Lab approach.
Who plans cities for women? Feminist urbanism challenges traditional urban planning and design paradigms to account for women's experiences. Legal researcher and creator of the “Feminist City” podcast, Sneha Visakha, on the real-world impacts of masculinist urban planning in our cities and the power of feminist urbanism.
Traditional architecture is crucial in adapting to geographical conditions. However, modern materials have become a more popular choice for the masses. According to Farha Shermin and Mainak Gosh, lacking a thorough understanding of both types has led to a confusing typology.
Heat waves have become a global phenomenon, but in South Asia the situation is worsening due to climate change. Rohit Magotra on the silent climate disaster and the importance of heat action plans in India and beyond.
14-year-old climate activist and member of the BBC's 100 Most Influential and Powerful Women, Ridhima Pandey, on her hometown and what inspires her to work every day for a better and greener future for all.
Changing discourses have characterised New Delhi's housing policy over time. Piyush Tiwari and Jyoti Shukla outline developments and call onto the public and private housing institutions to provide equal access to decent and affordable housing.
The world today needs solutions, to eradicate poverty in a holistic and sustainable manner. They lie in better technology, affordable finance, and induced market linkages. All these are factors that can be incentivised through city governments, argue Huda Jaffer and Nirmita Chandrashekar, emphasising that the poor should be part of the solution and not the problem.
The Indian state of Odisha has initiated a slum upgrading programme that acknowledges residents as city makers. Preeti Prada Panigrahi presents its advantages and successes.
Lou Del Bello reports on COP26, the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference that took place in Glasgow, Scotland.
The global debate on agriculture under urbanisation has often focused a priori on the replacement of agricultural uses by built-up space. It thereby often overlooks new opportunities for agriculture at the urban periphery.
A fresh perspective on urban-rural linkages allows us to re-envision urban fringe areas as zones for innovative businesses, growth, and prosperity. By Kaustubh Das
Chennai’s wetlands are prone to disastrous floods and droughts. Jayshree Vencatesan delves into the city’s past and shows just how important understanding city hydrology is for urban planning.
Delhi’s recent regularisation scheme PM-UDAY promises to improve tenure security of about 5 million residents – a highly ambitious task considering the gendered implications of land tenure security in India. Can the scheme deliver on its potential and strengthen women’s land ownership? By Sonal Sharma, Smriti Singh and Sukrit Nagpal from SEWA Bharat
