Abandoned buildings can be an eyesore, a blight on a land- or cityscape, and even an embarrassment to many locals. Yet they are all a part of a place’s history and heritage. While not all are worth saving, many heritage buildings deserve a new lease of life. Here, Angelo Sciacca applies his passion for circular economics and participative planning to the problem.
Bike-share programs became more popular during the lockdown, as more people looked for alternatives to public transport. Even though the programs targeted residents, tourists accounted for more than a third of all users. By bike, tourists reach new neighbourhoods, distributing economic and social benefits of tourism activity more widely.
New research by the International Union for Conservation of Nature suggests that job cuts in nature reserves and environmental rollbacks by governments during the Covid-19 pandemic are undermining conservation efforts. Recovery measures need to be planned in a way that avoids negative impacts on biodiversity and charts a more sustainable and equitable way forward.
The European Travel Commission has released a practical seven-step framework which provides practical guidance on how all European destinations can advance sustainable tourism development. The handbook, which addresses a knowledge gap in the area, builds an urgent case for change and outlines the potential burdens of tourism development on communities, ecosystems and climate.
As rich countries are failing on their pledge to provide $100bn a year to help poor countries cope with the climate crisis, experts call for a new form of climate finance. This could include charging levies on international flights and high carbon fuels.
