Mar 13, 2020
In Homo Sacer, the Italian philosopher writes of the repression which occurs when a state of exception exists; people’s lives are reduced to a biological minimum, as in the Nazi concentration camps. But this reduction can persist once the exceptional conditions pass. The sociologist Alain Touraine long ago showed how war-time conditions legitimated state regulation…
Mar 13, 2020
Disconnected policies and too-rigid adherence to out-dated rules. Inability to align community capabilities with national, or local services. One-size-fits-all emergency management. These and a panoply of other issues are currently vexing official bodies, local charities, community activists and others, each seeking to stem the Covid-19 outbreak and its effects worldwide. These are also some of…
Mar 13, 2020
Over the last decade, urban planners, designers, developers, and municipalities have begun integrating the concepts of sustainability and resiliency into their city plans. While this is a positive step, it is still not the standard; while often discussed, it is rarely formalized or implemented. More recently, themes of wellness, wellbeing, and inclusion have entered the…
Mar 13, 2020
In a world defined by the constant movement of goods, capital, people, data and all else, building a smart city is to build a city with the least friction possible in order to maximize its flow. COVID-19 reminds us that frictions are sometimes a necessity, even when the flow of people as economic actors is…
Mar 13, 2020
Be safe, stay healthy. In the post-COVID-19 world, these phrases aren’t just platitudes, they’re the mark of a movement that’s quickly pervaded every aspect of American life. Typed into email signoffs, hashtagged on social media, digitized on freeway signage, and emblazoned on theater marquees—« be safe, stay healthy” offers a constant reminder of our goals as…
Jan 30, 2020
By Jason Bird, Adam Hosking & James A. Moore Denial is not a resilience strategy. But when it comes to managing change — and especially climate change — we’re more likely to stick our heads in the proverbial sand, maintaining and protecting the status quo, than acknowledging and planning for the inevitable rising tides. That,…
Jan 28, 2020
For this Big Picture, presented by Jacobs, we hear from cities and regions preparing to receive an impending generation of climate migrants. The contributors envision what new, more resilient, and equitable districts might look like on higher ground, as we learn that not every risk can be mitigated. Creative Writing
Jan 28, 2020
70% of the world’s population will be living in towns and cities by 2050. They already consume two-thirds of the world’s energy and are responsible for 70% of greenhouse gas emissions. With climate change already affecting urban areas worldwide, cities are now potential disaster victims and must find solutions to tackle tomorrow’s challenges. Sustainability isn’t…
Jan 28, 2020
“Open your eyes and look within:
Are you satisfied with the life you’re living?
We know where we’re going;
We know where we’re from.
We’re leaving Babylon, y’all!
We’re going to our Father’s land.” Exodus – Bob Marley Beyond the Book of Exodus reference in Marley’s song, the term exodus has a broader context in…
Jan 24, 2020
Climate-fueled natural disasters, whether flooding from extreme rainfall, prolonged drought, monster storms, or suffocating heatwaves, impact the world’s cities and the international system alike. Climate’s impacts upon cities and the international system are closely interwoven and any serious conversation about urban climate resilience should include its international and transboundary dimensions. Environmental security provides a frame…
Jan 24, 2020
With the increasing severity and frequency of flood events across Canada, it is clear that a small number of homes and neighbourhoods will face risks that are untenable. Repeated reconstruction of chronically flood-prone homes makes little sense, given the high public and human costs involved. In such circumstances, property buy-outs and relocation to safer ground…
Jan 24, 2020
People around the world tend to lump New Orleans and Miami into a general category of hospice urbanism. But, these two cities could not be more different. If I were to invest in one over the other, I would invest in the people of New Orleans over the assets of Miami. It is the history,…
