Reasons to be Cheerful: Zürich’s rooftop real estate is a giant climate shield

Tonic for tumultuous times.

The part of the city we rarely see –– rooftops high above our heads –– might be one of our best tools for fighting the effects of climate change. One Swiss city is proving that, with nearly half of its flat rooftops now supporting plants that help the city stay cool and thrive. Things are looking up!

Zürich’s Rooftop Real Estate Is a Giant Climate Shield
By: Michaela Haas

To cool streets, manage stormwater and restore biodiversity, Zürich has optimized the vast urban surface area that sits closest to the sun.

One Learns to Google, the Other Learns Compassion
By: Geetanjali Krishna

Through a volunteer program that pairs tech-savvy high schoolers with internet-wary seniors, both generations are learning something deeper than digital literacy.

A Recipe For Women’s Empowerment in Morocco
By: Peter Yeung

A country with one of the biggest gender gaps in the world is eating away at inequality through culinary training.

From Clicks to Cleanups: Juba’s Youth-Led Waste Revolution
By: Jenifer James & Butros Nicola

When the South Sudanese capital halted trash pickups, young residents created a new sanitation system that turns cleanup into community building.