iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities @wrirosscities.bsky.social · 13h

For decades, #cities have formalized, replaced or repressed informal transport. The Bogotá Living Lab is changing that 👉 bit.ly/4hTrt3x Do you want to help cities work with, not around, informal transport? Register for #GLOCON26 now ➡️ bit.ly/4x8TZ7A

000

WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities @wrirosscities.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

🚌 DYK ESBs produce <50% of the lifetime GHG emissions of diesel- & propane-burning school buses? In fact, in 🇺🇸 regions that are powered by lower-emissions energy sources, ESBs account for as little as 25% of the emissions burned by diesel buses. 👉 bit.ly/3WhkbPC #DriveElectricMonth #UrbanOctober

010

WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities @wrirosscities.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

Since 2018, the WRI Ross Center #PrizeforCities 🏆 has received 1.2k+ submissions & awarded 25 initiatives across regions, sectors & issue areas. Together, these projects show what urban transformation looks like. Our 🆕 cycle builds on that record. Apply now 👉 PrizeforCities.org

010

WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities @wrirosscities.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Students who walk & bike to school experience a myriad of benefits, including: 🫀 Improved health 🧠 A higher degree of alertness 💯 Better grades By improving active mobility infrastructure around schools, #cities can create sustainable, equitable & safe transportation for students. ➡️ bit.ly/4tjaEmk

072

WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities @wrirosscities.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

📢 Applications for the $250,000 WRI Ross Center #PrizeforCities are now open ➡️ PrizeforCities.org Supported by philanthropist and business leader Stephen M. Ross, the Prize 🏆 celebrates proven urban projects making #cities work better for people, nature and climate.

000

WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities @wrirosscities.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Making it easier to build housing is important — but it’s not the end of the story. 🆕 research by The Pew Charitable Trusts, led by experts from ECOnorthwest & WRI through NUMO, shows that building homes near existing jobs, stores & transit could save millions in public dollars. ➡️ bit.ly/4y79rRj

020

WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities @wrirosscities.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

As escalating climate impacts hit #cities, our October newsletter spotlights what works: 📹 WRI Colombia found speed cameras cut road deaths by 30% 🎙️ The Urban Q podcast explains how 2025–2026 Grand Prize winner Move As One Coalition drove safer mobility 🇪🇸 Spain joined #CHAMPclimate ➡️ bit.ly/4j28FkH

000

WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities @wrirosscities.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

As we enter #UrbanOctober, we're looking at how #cities can use #NBS to fight climate change. “In the face of escalating floods, fires and heat, it’s high time we recognize the many ways nature can protect us,” 🗨️ WRI President & CEO Ani Dasgupta 👉 bit.ly/4dJLaJE Read more ➡️ bit.ly/4zcLw41

011

WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities @wrirosscities.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

The WRI Ross Center #PrizeforCities 🏆 recognizes bold initiatives sparking change in #cities around the 🌍. One Grand Prize Winner will receive $250k. Four finalists will receive $25k each. Does your project have what it takes? Apply by Jan. 13, 2027 👉 PrizeforCities.org Read more ➡️ bit.ly/4yXjeKC

033

WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities @wrirosscities.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

This week at #ClimateWeekNYC 🗽, our experts advanced sustainable & inclusive urban development. Additionally, amid growing recognition that climate goals can only be achieved when all levels of government work together, Spain 🇪🇸 joined #CHAMPclimate ➡️ bit.ly/3VOnttt

010

WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities @wrirosscities.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

As the newest member of the #CHAMPclimate coalition, Spain 🇪🇸 is joining 77 other countries & the EU to close planning, financing & implementation gaps between cities, states, regions & national governments to translate national climate ambition into results for communities. More 👉 bit.ly/3VOnttt

022

WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities @wrirosscities.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Whether urban growth compounds sprawl-driven emissions or avoids them depends on choices being made right now about street networks, block structure & land policy. Today at #ClimateWeekNYC, we're exploring how the Global South can lock in compact growth ➡️ bit.ly/4ydNMYC

000

WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities @wrirosscities.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

This #WorldCarFreeDay, we're looking at how infill housing 🏘️ can unlock sustainable mobility 🚌 in #cities around the world. Learn more about infill housing from our experts tomorrow at #ClimateWeekNYC. Register now: 1️⃣ bit.ly/4hi2DtF 2️⃣ bit.ly/4j0TPer

030

WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities @wrirosscities.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

This week at #ClimateWeekNYC 🗽, we're exploring how integrated climate mitigation & adaptation approaches can improve popular transport & informal settlements while putting #cities on a more liveable, affordable & low-carbon track. Register now 👉 bit.ly/3Tg9Imt

010

WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities @wrirosscities.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Next week, we're joining global leaders, businesses, investors & civil society in New York City 🗽 to dive deep into the rapidly changing landscape of sustainable #cities & advance solutions on climate, nature & sustainable development. Learn from our experts at #ClimateWeekNYC 👉 bit.ly/4iFYUbT

000

WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities @wrirosscities.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Made in partnership with the Hixon Center for Urban Sustainability, HOW TO MAKE A CITY draws from 1.2k+ submissions to the WRI Ross Center #PrizeforCities 🏆 to show how #cities are driving urban transformation around the 🌍. See the exhibit at the WRI Hub during #ClimateWeekNYC 👉 bit.ly/3UX1vEj

031

WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities @wrirosscities.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

🛺 Autorickshaws, angkots, jeepneys, matatus, okadas, boda bodas, tuktuks & other forms of informal transport move hundreds of millions of people every day. Join us October 26–28 in Bangkok, 🇹🇭, for #GLOCON26, the first-ever global convening on informal & shared mobility 👉 bit.ly/4x8TZ7A

030

WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities @wrirosscities.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

The Global Cooling Pledge addresses extreme heat risks & sustainable cooling demand to cut sectoral emissions by 68% by 2050. This week, we're helping translate the Pledge’s commitments ➡️ action at the 2026 #GlobalCoolingPledge Assembly in 🇸🇬. 👉 bit.ly/4j3uWhZ

031

WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities @wrirosscities.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Since 2013, the Lee Schipper Memorial Scholarship has continued the legacy of Lee Schipper’s work on sustainable transport & energy efficiency policy. 👏 Congratulations to the 2026 awardees ➡️ bit.ly/4ysYFW6 See them at #TTDC27 in March 👉 transformingtransportation.org

031

WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities @wrirosscities.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

📢 BREAKING: 5 new researchers have been awarded the prestigious Lee Schipper Memorial Scholarship for Sustainable Transport & Energy Efficiency! ➡️ bit.ly/4ysYFW6 👏 Join us in congratulating Adekanbi, Wang & Hsu, & stay tuned for more on Fortuin-Brown & Olukorede!

042

WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities @wrirosscities.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Today at #ConnectKaro, WRI India led a live demo of the Shift Transport coalition's 🆕 Transport Analytics Hub! Explore transport data & interactive visualizations from 30 #cities around the world 🔎 shift-transport.org Attend demos of tools like #CoolCitiesLab & #ASCENT tomorrow ➡️ bit.ly/4r1EcFh

110

WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities @wrirosscities.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

How are inclusive public spaces planned, financed, built & maintained? Tomorrow at #ConnectKaro, our Sustainable Cities & Transport Program Director Sudeshna Chatterjee will unpack this question at ‘Aligning Demand & Supply for Inclusive Public Spaces' 👉 bit.ly/4r1EcFh Read more ➡️ bit.ly/4ftxjc3

011

WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities @wrirosscities.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

“The best climate solutions center people first, whether that means shading a sidewalk or protecting a settlement from floods.” Our Global Director Rogier van den Berg shares more in our 🆕 newsletter ➡️ bit.ly/4i3qJug Learn more from van den Berg at #IMPACTWEEK2026 👉 bit.ly/4cnJZiv

030

WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities @wrirosscities.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

As primary caregivers, women make up the majority of 🚴‍♀️ in Japan. But as 🇯🇵 strengthens regulations penalizing informal bike networks, these women stand to lose their freedom of mobility. Read more from #TheCityFix guest contributor Alison Sant ➡️ bit.ly/3SwpHwh

070

WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities @wrirosscities.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

From using #NBS to mitigate urban heat & flood risk 🌊 to promoting e-mobility & public transit connectivity 🚌, #cities around the world are figuring out why some climate solutions succeed — and why others fail. Our September newsletter is now live ➡️ bit.ly/4i3qJug

042

WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities @wrirosscities.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

In 🇺🇸, 180M people rely on forested lands for drinking water 🫗. By protecting and restoring forests 🌳 within their watersheds, #cities can improve water quality and quantity — and make water sources more resilient to climate change. Learn more 👉 bit.ly/3PbIU4G #WorldWaterWeek

092

WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities @wrirosscities.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

High levels of water stress jeopardize people’s lives, jobs, food and energy security. #Cities can act now by developing urban water resilience action plans 💧, treating & reusing wastewater 🚰 and prioritizing water-prudent energy sources like solar and wind ☀️. 👉 bit.ly/4qDI1QX #WorldWaterWeek

010

WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities @wrirosscities.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

While a drain or a flood barrier addresses a single problem, African #cities are using #NBS like restored wetlands 🌿 and green corridors 🌳 to simultaneously tackle climate adaptation, biodiversity loss, unemployment, livability and gender inequities. ➡️ bit.ly/4dZVg8v #WorldWaterWeek #SUNCASA

041

WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities @wrirosscities.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

While the rise in data centers is all but inevitable, the way it happens is not. Data centers power modern life. Clear rules on issues like water use 💧 will determine whether this growth strengthens local economies & infrastructure — or shifts risks to residents. ➡️ bit.ly/4cdwClO #WorldWaterWeek

010

WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities @wrirosscities.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

Around the 🌍, #cities are facing converging challenges: rapid urbanization, rising climate threats & increasingly constrained water resources. This #WorldWaterWeek, we're exploring these threats to urban 💧 resilience & how cities use #NBS to solve them. Stay tuned & read more ➡️ bit.ly/4lLKHIb

041

WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities @wrirosscities.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

Last week, Colombia was struck by a deadly earthquake, the country's most powerful in decades. As Colombia prepares to rebuild, we look to #cities that turned their recovery period into an opportunity to improve disaster risk reduction & develop inclusive urban infrastructure. 👉 bit.ly/44Q7hdC

011

WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities @wrirosscities.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

Informal transport 🛺 is often overlooked in climate policy — but w/ targeted action, it can provide sustainable, accessible & equitable transport where it’s needed most. This October, we’re organizing the 1st global convening on informal & shared mobility. Register for #GLOCON26 👉 bit.ly/4x8TZ7A

052

WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities @wrirosscities.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

Most climate-focused capital is controlled by national governments, which can be bloated, slow and imprecise. Now, with help from #CHAMPclimate, some #cities, states and regions are bridging the funding gap. Read more via Inside Climate News ➡️ bit.ly/45NYgRI

060

WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities @wrirosscities.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

Our analysis of 60+ #cities worldwide reveals a clear gap: Large areas of plantable land are often underutilized. By increasing 🌳 cover in parking lots & along streets, cities can reduce heat exposure & save lives. Read more 👉 bit.ly/4wbgXur How could trees cool your city? ➡️ coolcities.wri.org

1199

WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities @wrirosscities.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

🔥 Data from WRI's Global Nature Watch confirms that fires are burning more than 2x as much forest cover today as they did just 20 years ago. Wildfires can have immense impacts on #cities hundreds or even thousands of kilometers away. Now is the time to act. Read more 👉 bit.ly/4gaTFPA

065

WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities @wrirosscities.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

Around the 🌎, #cities are meeting climate risk with local action. 🇮🇳 Bengaluru launched a heat collective. 🇿🇦 Johannesburg is building community gardens. 🇲🇽 Hermosillo is collaborating with residents on a cooling project. Read our July newsletter for more 🔗 bit.ly/4wGbtrL

072

WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities @wrirosscities.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

From e-mobility to AI, 🆕 technology is transforming transportation — so how can these changes create opportunities for more people? Next March, experts from around the 🌍 will convene in Washington, D.C., 🇺🇸, to answer this question at #TTDC27. Stay tuned 👉 transformingtransportation.org

061

WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities @wrirosscities.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

When it comes to global warming, every fraction of a degree matters. 🆕 WRI analysis explores how 1.5 & 3°C of warming might affect ~1,000 of the 🌏's largest #cities. See how your city could be affected ➡️ bit.ly/4bN3Mre Explore solutions with #CoolCitiesLab ➡️ coolcities.wri.org

042

WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities @wrirosscities.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

Urban development & nature are often positioned as at odds with each other 🤼 — but nature can help us build healthy #cities. By implementing green spaces 🌳, cities can combat urban heat, boost native biodiversity & improve residents' mental and physical health. Read more 👉 bit.ly/45aSObz

061

WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities @wrirosscities.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

The average global temperature is shifting — and so is the way we talk about it 🗣️. Our Data Scientist Ruth Engel dives into how heat-related communications 🤳 can reframe extreme heat as a public health hazard, rather than an ambient background condition. 👉 bit.ly/4pCtrZu

042

WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities @wrirosscities.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

In Johannesburg, apartheid-era development left the most vulnerable communities w/o the green infrastructure needed to protect them from climate change. #SUNCASA is bridging the #city's green divide. W/ funding from Amazon’s Right Now Climate Fund, we're expanding these efforts 🌱. ➡️ bit.ly/4fm5P6s

010

WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities @wrirosscities.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

Record-breaking heat 🔥 is hitting #cities around the world. In an interview with @grist.org, our Senior Fellow Kurt Shickman shared how extreme heat is impacting human health and the future of climate action. Read it now ➡️ bit.ly/4fEWqbu

031

WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities @wrirosscities.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

Dependence on imported fossil fuels ⛽ leaves economies vulnerable to geopolitical events far beyond their borders. As the conflict in Iran continues, Ethiopia 🇪🇹 is turning a moment of crisis into an opportunity to build a more sustainable, resilient & equitable transport system. ➡️ bit.ly/4vTfjwI

071

WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities @wrirosscities.bsky.social · 10/07/2026

From boda bodas & marshrutkas to colectivos & tuk-tuks 🛺, paratransit provides crucial connections for millions of urban residents around the 🌏. Join us in Bangkok, 🇹🇭, for #GLOCON26, the 1st global convening on informal & shared mobility. Early bird prices available until July 15 👉 bit.ly/4f5pZ4v

062

WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities @wrirosscities.bsky.social · 09/07/2026

Last month was the hottest June on record 🔥 in Western Europe. In an interview with @grist.org, our Senior Fellow Kurt Shickman shared that extreme heat is “something that we’re seeing more and more of. These types of iconic moments can be galvanizing for years and years to come.” Read more ⬇️

042

WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities @wrirosscities.bsky.social · 09/07/2026

With climate change and a severe El Niño underway, #cities need to understand heat’s effects on people and their health 🌡️. "We have the data and the solutions. It’s time for governments to use them,” 💬 WRI Ross Center's Eric Mackres and Drexel University's Usama Bilal. Read more ➡️ bit.ly/4wy8K39

031

WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities @wrirosscities.bsky.social · 08/07/2026

African #cities are rethinking 💭 what counts as infrastructure. By integrating urban forests, wetland parks, rain gardens & other #NBS 🌿 into their urban design, these cities are showing how nature can be one of our strongest allies against the climate crisis. Learn more ➡️ bit.ly/4aGyjXc

031

WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities @wrirosscities.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

From FIFA World Cup hydration breaks ⚽ to recent heat waves in Europe ☀️, extreme heat is already reshaping daily life. WRI’s Carter Brandon and Ruth Engel unpack how #cities are responding to urban heat, which solutions work and what we can do to prepare for a hotter future. 👉 bit.ly/4oU8Xea

031

WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities @wrirosscities.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

2023–2024 WRI Ross Center #PrizeforCities finalist 🏆 Green Community Schoolyards has created safe, accessible green spaces for New Yorkers. Now, it's advocating for greener schoolyards across 🇺🇸, showing how locally grounded urban solutions 🌳 can shape broader policy conversations. 👉 bit.ly/4y0XOwp

034

WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities @wrirosscities.bsky.social · 30/06/2026

WRI welcomes Nairobi, 🇰🇪; Rio de Janeiro, 🇧🇷; the Oromia Region, 🇪🇹; and Medellín, 🇨🇴, to #BIGRS! By scaling proven, evidence-based road safety solutions 🚸 in these new regions, we're excited to continue making #cities more livable, prosperous and safe for everyone. Learn more ➡️ bit.ly/4oX0bvZ

010