Karen Coghlan

Writer, Melbourne, tweet stories, writing, favorite writing tips...& favourite writing online.

[TODERIAN UrbanWORKS (TUW) @TODUrbanWORKS]

Downtown Sacramento’s new Livability Strategy stresses what co-author @BrentToderian calls “The Urban Contract.” We will choose density over sprawl if the density comes with the real amenities we need. Including the necessary BASICS, not just specialty amenities. This is KEY!

[Canadian Urbanism @CanUrbanism]

City leaders, never forget the importance of the “urban contract,” what urbanites expect and demand from urban living in trade for the private space offered by the suburbs. Read this important thread by @BrentToderian.

[Brent Toderian @BrentToderian]

One of the best people-places in New York City, Washington Square Park, had at one time been surrendered to cars, with plans to make it even worse. But after one of the great battles in city-building history, it was closed to cars & opened to people.

Avoid or fix dumb mistakes.

[Mike Hudema @MikeHudema]

This school in Wisconsin is going #solar. The panels will generate energy for the school and it is estimated to save the district $1.5 million dollars in energy costs.

Shouldn't every school get a #solarpower upgrade? #ActOnClimate

#climate #energy #renewables #GreenNewDeal

[Brent Toderian @BrentToderian]

“It’s no secret that Canada is facing a major housing shortage. But could the sheer amount of space used for parking vehicles be part of the problem?”

Spoiler: A BIG part. The real question is whether we’re willing to fix it, and fast. #ThePowerOfParking
https://t.co/uMncozhCMN

[Mark Z. Jacobson @mzjacobson]

The California grid ran on 100% renewables with no blackouts or cost rises for parts of a record 98 out of 116 days (and 132 days all year in 2024)

https://t.co/FhyqAnbPcq @ElectrekCo @michelle0728

Here's the paper:
https://t.co/Z6t81tXJbw

[Brent Toderian @BrentToderian]

“Many Swedish cities, including #Stockholm, prioritize snow clearance very differently. They now clear walkways & bike paths first, especially those near bus stops & primary schools. Next, they clear local roads, & then, finally, highways.” https://t.co/B2b4LNmT1k

[Brent Toderian @BrentToderian]

“Finland’s success isn’t a matter of luck or the outcome of quick fixes. It’s the result of a sustained, well-resourced national strategy, driven by a ‘Housing First’ approach, providing people experiencing homelessness with immediate permanent housing.”
https://t.co/zX1qWhMruK

[Brent Toderian @BrentToderian]

Asthma emergency admissions plunged as lockdown improved air, Oxford study finds. “First study to tally asthma exacerbations with air pollution during pandemic finds numbers admitted to A&E fell 41% in 2020.” 
https://t.co/NJ7ms5F0yO

[New Scientist @newscientist]

Chemical exposures from common plastic products are linked to hundreds of thousands of deaths globally, according to a study of roughly one third of the world population. https://t.co/dMIr8ksajT

[IPCC @IPCC_CH]

Adapting to #climatechange improves:

🐄 Agricultural productivity,
🔋 Innovation,
🪷 Health and well-being,
🌽 Food security,
👷‍♀️ Livelihoods,
🐠 Biodiversity conservation &
🚧 Reduces risks & damages.

#IPCC #ClimateReport ➡️ https://t.co/31XeCHTWQN

#GlobalGoals

[Alicia, Courtyard Urbanist @UrbanCourtyard]

How do we make it easy for adults to have children AND live in the urban core, where they want to be? A new (2024) courtyard development in Berlin shows the way:

[Brent Toderian @BrentToderian]

Remember, when Barcelona eliminated 3 lanes of vehicle traffic & converted this street into a 4.7km green pedestrian corridor in the heart of the Eixample grid, businesses sued. They actually won. But by then businesses had decided they actually like it.
https://t.co/iYu5LyJ4vr

[Mark Z. Jacobson @mzjacobson]

“Carbon capture will increase fossil fuel production, there’s no doubt about it..It does not help climate one bit.”

@nytimes

https://t.co/StsIQxkfPc

[Jostein Hauge @haugejostein]

In 2015, China launched an ambitious industrial policy plan named "Made in China 2025".

The plan has been a massive success. China has become a global leader in five key technology areas, and is competitive in several others.

[Hayden @the_transit_guy]

We need a lot more residential streets with rainways.

(City of Vancouver, BC)

[Robert Kwolek @RobertKwolek]

Trams are not just an improved form of transport - they can also be a catalyst for significant street redesign and beautification. I've been collecting the best examples of this, including these in Nice, France, where space was reallocated from cars to trams and made greener too.

[BladeoftheSun @BladeoftheS]

Denmark

[Assaad Razzouk @AssaadRazzouk]

Good climate news this week
1 Japan targets 70% clean energy by 2040
2 China sets 200GW goal for 2025 wind and solar
3 US Supreme Court dismisses challenges to California ability to set strict vehicle emission rules
4 Production in China's solar industry up 20% from January to October 2024
5 Montana’s top court upholds children’s right to a clean environment
6 Only 5 proposals for coal plants remain across OECD’s 38 countries
7 US EPA approves California plan to ban sale of gas-only cars from 2035
8 Over 1.5m German homes have already installed solar on their balconies
9 UK hits 2 maximum wind generation records within a week in December
10 Permian methane emissions plunge 26%
11 Enormous ore carrier becomes largest vessel yet to harness wind power
12 Swiss watchdog posts climate risk rules for banks after pushback
13 UK watchdog rules Lloyds Bank published misleading claims about its efforts in the energy transition
14 US warns natural gas expansion would drive up domestic costs
15 Shell greenwashing of LNG ships outed

[Mike Hudema @MikeHudema]

If we switched to #renewableenergy, the number of ships crossing the ocean would fall by 40% because they're just carrying coal & oil & gas!! https://t.co/cnuJvdGwbl

We have the solutions. Implement them. #ActOnClimate

#ClimateAction #climate #energy #GreenNewDeal