The communities in which we live strongly shape (and are shaped by) our wellbeing. Over time, changing preferences and norms influence the types of built environments we create for ourselves. Given trends and conditions in many of today’s societies, this means transitioning away from the sprawling, car-dependent suburbs, and toward the dense, walkable city.

On April 22nd, at the United Nations in New York, leaders the world over will sign the Paris agreement on reducing the threat of climate change. This is a high-water mark for political commitment to this disastrous problem, so it is fair to ask: Will it make a difference? A handful of insights, grounded in math, can clarify the situation and point out a straightforward path to a reasonable, low-carbon future.

California’s suburban sprawl has made the state’s transportation sector its largest single contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. With an expected addition of 6 million new residents in the next 15 years, whether California succeeds in building cities inward instead of outward could make all the difference in meeting its 2030 climate target, which calls for reducing greenhouse gas emissions 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030.

A foundation veteran who (co-)wrote the book on marrying measurement to giving now says the ideas he promoted have had some “nasty” effects on donor-grantee relationships.

Recently, the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission discussed performance-based regulation (PBR) with Sonia Aggarwal, Director of Strategy at Energy Innovation. Jennifer Christensen interviewed Ms. Aggarwal and posed some questions that are central to understanding this alternative to traditional regulation.

On 21 February, China’s State Council released a new set of urban development guidelines aiming to produce a framework which will create urban areas that have improved navigability, tighter-knit communities, better access to commercial and public areas, and are less resource intensive.

While we are continuously learning more about what makes human habitats both livable and sustainable, a consensus has emerged on the most foundational and necessary design principles. Last year, China Development Bank Capital, Energy Innovation, and Energy Foundation created the Guidelines for Green and Smart Urban Development to outline these design principles.

Public priorities for the electricity sector have shifted in recent years as rapid technological development enables a cleaner, more affordable, reliable, and safe electric system. But many utilities are not keeping pace. As a consequence of new market forces and new options, the institutions governing the electricity system must also evolve.

The increase in more mixed-use and walkable neighborhoods is another factor changing the way Angelenos get around. Mixed-use development locates goods and services within walking and biking distance from where people live and work, decreasing the need for long-distance travel by car or transit.

Combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) power plants are the swiss army knife of today’s US power system. One has to decide if CCGT is a pure energy resource paid off through maximum sales of its electricity, or a flexible resource that holds back on production to support the grid.

On February 21, China’s State Council and the Communist Party’s Central Committee released a new set of guidelines for strengthening urban planning and development. As the world’s most populous nation, China’s urban development will set the tone as urban populations continue to grow worldwide.

Eleanor Stein, a former REV project manager, offers insight on how coordination between utilities, regulators, and the public can boost trust in the regulatory process

A number of urban features are drawing smart people and top-notch businesses to cities, all of which share the common objective of being “people-centric,” focusing on the person instead of the car, the street, or the building. As it turns out, the same features making cities most attractive for people and businesses also make them best for the environment and for the economy.

Sustainable urbanization will be fundamental in China’s ambitions to develop a more consumer-led, innovative economy. By following the roadmaps of Hammarby (Stockholm) and the Pearl District (Portland), China can make great progress in the greening of its cities in the coming years.

The notion of sustainable cities usually conjures environmental themes, but sustainable urban design’s greatest impact could be on economic performance. By creating improved quality of life conditions for residents, sustainable cities simultaneously lay the foundation for wide-ranging economic benefits.

The actions of some countries toward meeting COP21 agreements will inevitably weigh more heavily than others. India’s emissions are expected to more than double in the next 25 years, so it can’t be left out of the conversation. But because India is still heavily developing, it may be better positioned than others to drastically reduce emissions while dramatically improving its citizens’ quality of life.

In the lead up to last month’s historic Paris climate summit, China announced that it would “embark on a new pattern of urbanization.” With cities consuming three-quarters of the China’s energy, the fate of this initiative carries global significance. What will China’s “new pattern of urbanization” look like?

The new “Green and Smart Urban Development Guidelines” feature 18 principles that apply to every city in China. There are recommendations for curbing sprawl, spurring transit-oriented development, creating mixed-use neighborhoods and increasing public space.

Electricity from wholesale power markets keeps the lights on for two-thirds of all Americans. But pressure is mounting to reform these markets to match the changes underway in the energy system. 2016 will be a turning point for policymakers, clean energy providers, and wholesale market operators to work together and modernize U.S. wholesale power markets.

What will the new pattern of urbanization look like for China? The Green & Smart Urban Development Guidelines capture some of the most important lessons learned from global experience on how to build a great city, tailored to China’s unique environmental, economic, and social conditions.