Industrial Ecology & Urban Planning

Globally, half of urban residents live in small cities, which may struggle to provide services efficiently and effectively. A recent study of waste management in the Czech Republic shows that if these small municipalities work together, they can gain significant benefits in the long-run.

Ridesharing companies like Uber and Lyft may enable people to forego car ownership, but are they good for the environment?  A recent study suggests ridesharing, which has been commonly viewed as an innovative urban mobility solution, is perpetuating rather than solving cities’ carbon emissions problems.

The Chinese plastic industry is responsible for 25 percent of global plastic production. Despite the versatility and prevalence of plastics around the world, plastics have significant environmental drawbacks — a single plastic bottle produces three pounds of carbon dioxide and takes 450 years to decompose. How might China reduce these adverse environmental effects? One option the country is exploring is plastic waste recovery.

Migratory birds rely on high quality habitat in which to rest overnight during their annual journeys.  However, a recent study suggests that city lights can divert birds from their traditional flight paths.  By resting in areas with fewer resources – be it less cover for protection or fewer plants and insects to eat – birds may need more time to complete their migrations and arrive at their destinations in poorer condition.