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Canada’s cities in a changing world 1920-2120: The Halftime Report
Posted by Daniel Hoornweg on November 25, 2025
A 200-year perspective, or about seven generations as suggested by the Iroquois Nation, is a useful timeframe to look at governance and public policies. Canada’s cities, especially in today’s turbulent world, need the benefit of a long-term view. Over the last 100 years,...
Filed under: Sustainability 101
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Cheer Up. The Hard Part’s Over.
Posted by Daniel Hoornweg on January 03, 2024
Recently a fourth-year engineering student asked me, “so, how much trouble are we in?” With earth systems out of whack, like climate change and loss of biodiversity, burgeoning refugees, public debt, and active wars in Ukraine and Gaza, it is easy to despair, thinking a grim...
Filed under: Sustainability 101
Taxing the World’s Patience
Posted by Daniel Hoornweg on November 24, 2023
As Canada’s carbon tax appears to be going up in flames as fast as fossil fuels on a cold winter day, it may be worth asking what we get in return for a price on carbon. First, despite the global grumpiness with having to pay, pricing signals are one of the most powerful ways to...
Filed under: Sustainability 101
Sustainability Round Two: The Women’s Match
Posted by Daniel Hoornweg on September 28, 2023
Last month the men’s Sustainability Round One match featured Vaclav Smil versus Noah...
Filed under: Sustainability 101
Sustainability Match Round One: Vaclav Smil versus Yuval Noah Harari
Posted by Daniel Hoornweg on September 06, 2023
The thrust and parry of the sustainability debate is well-argued in the writings of two men:...
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The Eleventh Commandment
Posted by Daniel Hoornweg on July 27, 2023
Dana Meadows, likely the world’s most appreciated systems engineer and champion of...
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The Year of Living – (sort of) Radical Sabbatical Musings on Sustainability
Posted by Daniel Hoornweg on July 01, 2023
One of the best perks of academia is the sabbatical; a year to think and write. The first leave...
Filed under: Sustainability 101
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