Tag: Policy

Why the Oil Market Is in a Freefall Right Now

Why the Oil Market Is in a Freefall Right Now

Why the Oil Market Is in a Freefall Right Now

03/18/20

“Why are oil prices sinking to all new lows?”

 

Oil prices are sinking to dramatic lows. This has the potential to devastate industries and send the world community into an economic recession. But what exactly is causing this?

 

Near the beginning of the year, the need to limit travel because of the new coronavirus epidemic had caused flight demand to drop. This led to a decrease in oil demand, prompting OPEC to propose a limit on oil production globally to keep prices stable. However, Russia ignored these rulings and continued its production as normal, hoping to capture a greater share of the market. Saudi Arabia responded by slashing oil prices, selling below market value to ensure its stake in the market. Both countries (at the time of writing) are now proposing an increase in production in an all-out market war. Combined with the fact that oil demand is plummeting due to coronavirus restrictions, and you have a price that is soaring down. This is Why the Oil Market Is in a Freefall Right Now.

Why Newer Housing Will Be Necessary for Disaster Resilience

Why Newer Housing Will Be Necessary for Disaster Resilience

Why Newer Housing Will Be Necessary for Disaster Resilience

03/17/20

“Why will new housing be a necessity for disaster resilience?”

 

With the ever-increasing level of global interconnectivity and average temperatures, disasters are going to become more deadly. Since the exterior environment might become too dangerous during these times, people may need to stay inside for long periods of time. More modern housing usually ensures greater safety due to updated codes and building materials. For example, more modern housing tends to have better air filtration which can clear out particulate matter that may occur from a wildfire. Newer housing can also be designed to resist and absorb floods that may occur. And in case of a government-mandated quarantine, newer housing can provide a more comfortable living environment. This is Why Newer Housing Will Be Necessary for Disaster Resilience.

Infill Development

Infill Development

Infill Development

03/01/20

“How can we build in an urban area that’s already in use?”

 

The global housing crisis is one of the largest social and infrastructure problems right now. One course of action that holds great promise is to convert a space in an urban area that’s currently not in use or underutilized (such as a decaying factory) into something new using Infill Development. Infill development not only holds the potential to increase the amount of housing and infrastructure available in a city but also combat sprawl by allowing for cities to not have to spread out to accommodate for new development.

 

Image credit http://www.prologis.com

Climate Migration Analysis

Climate Migration Analysis

Climate Migration Analysis

02/25/20

“How can researchers analyze how a population migrates because of climate change?”

 

Climate migration will be one of the most important humanitarian issues of the 21st century. And to get a better understanding of it, researchers will need to analyze the effects going on. This can be done using Climate Migration Analysis, which studies the factors that cause populations to move from one location to another and how it might shift climate vulnerabilities.

 

Image credit assetsds.cdnedge.bluemix.net

How Urban Sprawl Can Lead to Flooding Vulnerabilities

How Urban Sprawl Can Lead to Flooding Vulnerabilities

How Urban Sprawl Can Lead to Flooding Vulnerabilities

02/23/20

“How can urban sprawl lead to flooding vulnerabilities?”

 

Urban sprawl is infamous for causing an untold amount of problems in cities. When cement is poured over floodplains, the local area loses its water absorption capacity and becomes more prone to runoffs and flash floods. An example of this was the massive damage inflicted upon the city of Houston in late 2017 from Hurricane Maria, much of it exacerbated from its urban sprawl. This is How Urban Sprawl Can Lead to Flooding Vulnerabilities.

Why Moving Into Newer Housing Can Increase Resilience to Climate Change

Why Moving Into Newer Housing Can Increase Resilience to Climate Change

Why Moving Into Newer Housing Can Increase Resilience to Climate Change

02/03/20

“Why is it that moving into newer housing can increase your resilience to climate change?”

 

Whether you like it or not, Climate Change is coming and you will need to prepare. One of the biggest vulnerabilities that people have is the quality of their housing. Older housing is usually built according to outdated standards and with aged materials, increasing the risk of breakdown when disaster strikes. By moving into newer housing, it is more likely that you will be living in a place that has been designed with the new climate in mind in addition to being composed of more modern materials. This is Why Moving Into Newer Housing Can Increase Resilience to Climate Change.