On the rooftops of Mexico City\u2019s massive food market\u2014one of the largest in the world\u2014over 30,000 solar panels have been installed. Currently, the energy generated powers the market’s electricity needs, but starting in January, it will also support the charging of more than 300 electric buses. The project is led by Claudia Sheinbaum, former mayor of the capital and now president of Mexico, who has vowed to accelerate the nation\u2019s energy transition.<\/span><\/p>\n Auckland ranks first globally among \u201csponge cities,\u201d an urban design model that efficiently manages water to mitigate flooding risks. In the Global Sponge Cities Snapshot, a study by Arup, the New Zealand city achieved the highest \u201csponginess\u201d score of 34%. Nairobi follows with the same score (34%), while Singapore, New York, and Mumbai share third place at 30%.<\/span><\/p>\n The Canadian city of Leduc, located in Alberta, has turned to artificial intelligence to enhance waste sorting. In 2023, cameras capable of scanning bins and detecting errors in waste separation were introduced. Residents who make mistakes receive postcards at home detailing their errors. According to Bloomberg, this initiative reduced organic waste contamination from 68% to 9% within a year. However, some cybersecurity experts have raised concerns about potential privacy risks for residents.<\/span><\/p>\n Saudi Arabia\u2019s ambitious Neom tourism project is consuming a staggering 20% of the global steel supply. Much of the material is being used to build \u201cThe Line,\u201d a futuristic desert city stretching 105 miles and designed to house approximately 9 million residents. To bring this metropolis to life\u2014part of Mohammed bin Salman\u2019s vision to move the country away from fossil fuel dependence\u2014Saudi Arabia relies heavily on foreign steel suppliers, especially China, the largest steel producer worldwide.<\/span><\/p>\n The Indian state of Telangana has announced plans to construct a high-tech urban center called \u201cFuture City.\u201d This new city will focus on sectors such as artificial intelligence, medical tourism, sports, software, and pharmaceuticals. Covering an area of about 40 square kilometers, it is part of a broader strategy to manage the demands of India\u2019s growing population by creating new cities and alleviating the strain on existing ones.<\/span><\/p>\n Medell\u00edn, Colombia, has undertaken a groundbreaking initiative to green the city and combat rising temperatures. In 2016, Mayor Federico Guti\u00e9rrez launched a $16.3 million program to establish thirty \u201cgreen corridors\u201d along urban streets, develop over 70 hectares of green spaces, and create 20 kilometers of shaded pathways for pedestrians and cyclists. This project has lowered the city\u2019s temperature by 2\u00b0C and serves as a replicable model for other cities facing the challenges of climate change.<\/span><\/p>\n Gianluca Brambilla is a journalist for Open, specializing in reporting on the environment, climate, and energy.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Mexico City: The Energy Transition Starts at the Market On the rooftops of Mexico City\u2019s massive food market\u2014one of the largest in the world\u2014over 30,000 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7961,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"coauthors":[151],"class_list":["post-5960","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-non-categorizzato"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nAuckland: The World Capital of “Sponge Cities”<\/b><\/h3>\n
Leduc: Where AI Oversees Waste Sorting<\/b><\/h3>\n
“The Line” Requires a Lot of Steel<\/b><\/h3>\n
Future City: India\u2019s New High-Tech Urban Hub<\/b><\/h3>\n
Green Corridors Keeping Medell\u00edn Cool<\/b><\/h3>\n