In 43 years the world’s urban population is expected to double, but urban land cover will double in less than half that time (19 years). In the cities of developing countries population is expected to double between 2000 and 2030 and urban land cover (predicted by trends in this report) will triple.
Based on the growth metrics gathered, the report recommends that in many developing cities a “make room” paradigm of urban planning should be used in place of a “smart growth” or “containment” policy. The report may spark keen debate on the subject.
+ Making Room for a Planet of Cities [external link]
+ “The developing world’s megacities need a plan,” Richmond Times-Dispatch [external link]

Influencing Factors: Satellites Help Decipher the Fate of West Antartica
An international team of researchers has combined satellite imagery and climate and ocean records to obtain the most detailed understanding yet of how the West Antarctic Ice Sheet – which contains enough ice to raise global sea level by 3.3 metres – is responding to climate change.