Topic Hub
A focused intelligence section from the Mark and Focus archive, connecting recurring analysis across policy, infrastructure, resilience, technology, and urban systems change.
Around the world, leading wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) are becoming prosumers: both a producer and consumer of energy. In regular WWTPs, aeration, pumping, and solids processing account for most of the electricity…
In 2018, Copenhagen’s new waste-to-energy plant will not only set the bar high for environmental performance but also for architectural integration into the landscape with the plant containing a variety of green…
The Paris Climate Agreement commits nations to limit global temperature rise to well below 2 degrees Celsius and to aspire to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius. In support, New York…
In the 21st century, cities will play an increasing role in developing the green economy. One city that is at the forefront is Los Angeles (LA), which has recently published its second…
Scottish Water, which provides water and wastewater services to 2.49 million households and 152,000 businesses across Scotland, is contributing towards the development of a circular economy. Scottish Water’s 3Rs In the circular…
Globally, rising urban populations are increasing the number of people, and the amount of infrastructure, exposed to climate change-related extreme weather events. At the same time, the growth of cities has contributed…
Urban areas account for 54% of the world’s population in 2014, yet cities account for 70-75% of natural resource consumption and contribute towards environmental degradation in areas far beyond their boundaries. At…
With rising greenhouse gas emissions and increasing resource scarcity, governments around the world are implementing a range of policies to increase efficiency in production and resource use. However, rather than focus on…
Many governments, at the city-, state- and national-level, have implemented technology challenges to spur the private sector in scaling-up game-changing green technologies that increase resource efficiency, lower water and energy usage and…
With the global pace of urbanization unprecedented, cities around the world will need to become smart in how they reduce emissions, use resources efficiently and become resilient to extreme weather events. A…
