Public choices · shared futures

The simple act of voting

A small gesture can help shape a much larger future. Explore what public choices change in cities, regions and countries, then ask informed questions of those who seek to represent you.

All stories

37 stories

Alpine Corridor · SwitzerlandNation

Alpine Corridor · Switzerland. Freight focused on trucks / Electric railway and last-mile deliveries — Freight focused on trucksElectric railway and last-mile deliveries

Mobility · Summary and scenarios

Give freight a better route

A reliable rail network and well-connected terminals allow large loads to be moved using less energy for transportation.

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Ukraine · war-torn territoriesNations

Ukraine · war-torn territories. Fires, destroyed infrastructure and contaminated territories / Conflict Prevention, Protected Services, and Recovery — Fires, destroyed infrastructure and contaminated territoriesConflict Prevention, Protected Services, and Recovery

Cooperation · Evaluation with estimates

Peace protects the systems we depend on

Preventing violence and protecting infrastructure and habitat avoids destruction, contamination and part of the emissions related to reconstruction.

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Montreal Protocol · global scaleNations

Montreal Protocol · global scale. Substances that destroy ozone without control / Coordinated and verified elimination of harmful substances — Substances that destroy ozone without controlCoordinated and verified elimination of harmful substances

Cooperation · Modeled scenario

Protect the sky together

International rules applied to the production and use of ozonolesic substances protect the layer that absorbs part of the ultraviolet radiation.

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Costa Rica · tropical rural landscapeNation

Costa Rica · tropical rural landscape. The forest loses space for other land uses / Retention backed by contracts and controls — The forest loses space for other land usesRetention backed by contracts and controls

Natura · Documented program

A living forest has value

Recognizing forest services economically can make conservation viable for those who live and work in the area.

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Cape Town · South AfricaCity

Cape Town · South Africa. A drought puts pressure on a fragile system / Reduced losses, managed demand and diversified sources — A drought puts pressure on a fragile systemReduced losses, managed demand and diversified sources

Aqua · Case observed and slow

Plan for drought before it arrives

Maintenance, pressure management, savings and any new sources increase the capacity to deal with a drought.

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Seoul · South KoreaCity

Seoul · South Korea. Food waste mixed with residual waste / Separate collection, weighing and treatment of the organic — Food waste mixed with residual wasteSeparate collection, weighing and treatment of the organic

Materials · Documented system

Give food waste a different destination

Separating waste makes dedicated treatments possible; a quantity rate may also encourage less waste.

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Norway · city overlooking a fjordNation

Norway · city overlooking a fjord. A new fleet still dependent on fossil fuels / Electric vehicles, affordable charging and low-emission electricity — A new fleet still dependent on fossil fuelsElectric vehicles, affordable charging and low-emission electricity

Mobility · Observed data

Electrify cars and prepare the grid

Taxation and charging infrastructure influence the vehicles purchased; the electric mix determines an important part of the emissions during use.

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Copenhagen · DenmarkCity

Copenhagen · Denmark. Fragmented paths and hard-to-cross junctions / A continuous cycle network connected to services — Fragmented paths and hard-to-cross junctionsA continuous cycle network connected to services

Mobility · Local monitoring

Make cycling a practical choice

Protected lanes, legible intersections and parking lots at stations make it feasible to replace some car journeys.

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United States · urban industrial districtNation

United States · urban industrial district. Emissions without effective limits and insufficient controls / Appropriate standards, monitoring and facilities — Emissions without effective limits and insufficient controlsAppropriate standards, monitoring and facilities

Aria · Modeled assessment

Make clean air a legal commitment

Applicable limits and checks reduce the pollutants emitted by plants and vehicles, protecting health and ecosystems.

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Denmark · district served by district heatingCity

Denmark · district served by district heating. Every building depends on its own fossil boiler / A heat network integrates recovery and low-emission sources — Every building depends on its own fossil boilerA heat network integrates recovery and low-emission sources

Energy · Documented system

Share heat across a neighbourhood

A network makes it possible to use recovered heat, large heat pumps or other sources suitable for the territory for multiple buildings.

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Uruguay · electricity grid landscapeNation

Uruguay · electricity grid landscape. Increased dependence on fossil fuel plants / A network integrates multiple renewable sources and flexibility — Increased dependence on fossil fuel plantsA network integrates multiple renewable sources and flexibility

Energy · Observed balance sheet

The same socket, a cleaner electricity mix

Changing electrical production changes the footprint of many daily uses at the same time.

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Japan · production and sale of household appliancesNation

Japan · production and sale of household appliances. The market may continue to sell inefficient appliances / Progressive standards and labels make consumption visible — The market may continue to sell inefficient appliancesProgressive standards and labels make consumption visible

Energy · Regulatory mechanism

Efficiency becomes a market rule

Minimum requirements push manufacturers and importers to improve the products available, without leaving all the responsibility to the consumer.

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Northern Aral Sea · KazakhstanBasin

Northern Aral Sea · Kazakhstan. Withdrawals and detours drain the basin / Managing inflows makes partial recovery possible — Withdrawals and detours drain the basinManaging inflows makes partial recovery possible

Aqua · Satellite observation

Keep water flowing to the lake

A lake depends on the water that comes to it. Regular withdrawals and hydraulic works can recover local habitats and activities.

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Kigali · RwandaNation

Kigali · Rwanda. Dispersed bags clog urban drains / Prevention, reuse and collection reduce dispersion — Dispersed bags clog urban drainsPrevention, reuse and collection reduce dispersion

Materials · Documented policy

Keep plastic bags out of urban waterways

Disposable product rules work together with accessible alternatives, collection and actual enforcement.

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Mediterranean neighborhood · inspired by Barcelonaneighbourhood

Mediterranean neighborhood · inspired by Barcelona. Services separated by large spaces dedicated to cars / Nearby services, direct routes and public transport — Services separated by large spaces dedicated to carsNearby services, direct routes and public transport

Mobility · Scientific synthesis

Bring everyday life closer to home

Bringing homes, services and activities closer together can reduce distances and demand for motorized transport.

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Netherlands · inspired by NijmegenBasin

Netherlands · inspired by Nijmegen. Embankments and buildings restrict the flood space / Golenes and side channels give way to water — Embankments and buildings restrict the flood spaceGolenes and side channels give way to water

Adaptation · Interventions carried out

Making room for the river

Retracting banks and reclaiming floodplain space can reduce flood levels or pressure in protected areas.

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Stockholm · SwedenCity

Stockholm · Sweden. Traffic crosses the center without a cost of congestion / A toll reduces demand and supports alternatives — Traffic crosses the center without a cost of congestionA toll reduces demand and supports alternatives

Mobility · Quasi-experimental study

Less traffic, more room to breathe

Charging for access during congested hours can reduce the number of vehicles and exposure to pollutants.

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Wales · residential roadRegion

Wales · residential road. High speeds in front of homes / Low speeds and protected crossings — High speeds in front of homesLow speeds and protected crossings

Mobility · Initial monitoring

Design streets for the people who cross them

Lower speeds reduce impact energy and stopping distance; together with the road design, they make it more practical to walk.

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Pontevedra · SpainCity

Pontevedra · Spain. The historic center is occupied by traffic and parking lots / Pedestrian priority, necessary access and shared spaces — The historic center is occupied by traffic and parking lotsPedestrian priority, necessary access and shared spaces

Mobility · Documented local case

Make the square a place for people again

A hierarchy that gives priority to those who walk changes the use of public space and reduces the need to cross the center by car.

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Helsinki · FinlandCity

Helsinki · Finland. An intersection exposes pedestrians and cyclists to dangerous conflicts / A system of roads, speeds and controls protects people — An intersection exposes pedestrians and cyclists to dangerous conflictsA system of roads, speeds and controls protects people

Mobility · Observed series

Design streets so a mistake need not cost a life

Safety depends on several elements: geometry of intersections, speed, controls, vehicles and rescue.

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Madrid—Barcelona Corridor · SpainNation

Madrid—Barcelona Corridor · Spain. The railway connection does not compete for time and service / A fast electric train connects city centers — The railway connection does not compete for time and serviceA fast electric train connects city centers

Mobility · Documented service

Give travellers a practical alternative to flying

A service competitive in terms of frequency, price and duration can move part of the trips from the plane and the car to the train.

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France · air and rail corridorsNation

France · air and rail corridors. A general promise leaves almost all routes unchanged / Thresholds and alternatives are designed to really make a difference — A general promise leaves almost all routes unchangedThresholds and alternatives are designed to really make a difference

Mobility · Lesson from a model

Even the details of a law change the outcome

A ban on short flights operates only on routes included in its conditions: train duration, frequencies and exceptions determine the capacity.

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Paris · FranceCity

Paris · France. Urban space continues to attract traffic / Fewer vehicles and accessible alternatives cross the city — Urban space continues to attract trafficFewer vehicles and accessible alternatives cross the city

Mobility · Evaluation with attribution

Cleaner urban air takes more than a new engine

Reducing the number of kilometers traveled limits consumption and some emissions; cleaner engines intervene mainly on exhaust pollutants.

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Bogota · ColombiaCity

Bogota · Colombia. Buses compete for space in traffic / Dedicated lanes, accessible stops and coordinated network — Buses compete for space in trafficDedicated lanes, accessible stops and coordinated network

Mobility · Ex post evaluation

Give buses a clear route through traffic

Giving physical priority to mass transit can improve time, reliability and service capacity.

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Shenzhen · ChinaCity

Shenzhen · China. Buses burn diesel along the streets / Electric buses with charging and coordinated shifts — Buses burn diesel along the streetsElectric buses with charging and coordinated shifts

Mobility · Modeled technical comparison

Electrify the bus fleet while keeping services reliable

Electrification eliminates local engine exhaust and can reduce CO₂, depending on the energy used for charging.

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Vienna · AustriaCity

Vienna · Austria. The ticket is accessible but the rides are not enough / Affordable rates and a frequent network work together — The ticket is accessible but the rides are not enoughAffordable rates and a frequent network work together

Mobility · Observed trend

An affordable travel pass needs a reliable service

Price, frequency, capillarity and parking management together influence the possibility of giving up a car trip.

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Minneapolis · United StatesCity

Minneapolis · United States. Parking obligations occupy the building lot / Buildings and services may use the same land differently — Parking obligations occupy the building lotBuildings and services may use the same land differently

City · Descriptive comparison

Make room for homes as well as parking

Revising parking standards allows for more compact urban forms, especially close to transport and services.

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Nigeria · context of fuel reformNation

Nigeria · context of fuel reform. Public resources support fuel consumption / A transition funds alternatives and targeted support — Public resources support fuel consumptionA transition funds alternatives and targeted support

Energy · Scenario and distribution lesson

Reform fuel subsidies while supporting households

Prices and public support influence consumption and investment. Reforming them requires viable alternatives and protection of the most exposed people.

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Mexico City · MexicoCity

Mexico City · Mexico. A license plate restriction encourages the purchase of another car / Measuring the effects makes it possible to correct the policy — A license plate restriction encourages the purchase of another carMeasuring the effects makes it possible to correct the policy

Mobility · Documented bankruptcy

A rule must be evaluated even when it doesn't work

People can circumvent a rule by changing time or vehicle. The evaluation is used to choose tools that really reduce pollution.

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Great Britain · electricity systemNation

Great Britain · electricity system. The grid continues to depend on coal power plants / A calendar coordinates closures and replacement capacity — The grid continues to depend on coal power plantsA calendar coordinates closures and replacement capacity

Energy · Observed transition

Set a date to phase out coal

A credible deadline guides investments, networks and the management of worker transitions.

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Ontario · Canadaprovince

Ontario · Canada. Coal power plants are part of the ordinary supply / Coal is being phased out of the grid — Coal power plants are part of the ordinary supplyCoal is being phased out of the grid

Energy · Observed transition

A province can transform its electricity supply

The coordinated closure of power plants can reduce emissions, if the system maintains sufficient capacity with less emissive sources.

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Sweden · road transportNation

Sweden · road transport. The price of fuel does not reflect the climate cost / A price of carbon guides consumption and alternatives — The price of fuel does not reflect the climate costA price of carbon guides consumption and alternatives

Energy · Quasi-experimental study

Put a price on emissions to change incentives

A stable economic signal can reduce fuel demand and encourage lower emission investments.

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European Union · industrial districtUnion of States

European Union · industrial district. Emissions do not have an effective decreasing limit / A roof, a price and checks guide production — Emissions do not have an effective decreasing limitA roof, a price and checks guide production

Energy · Systematic review

A ceiling on industry emissions

A quota system or tax makes it economically relevant to issue and can encourage efficiency and replacement of sources.

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Uruguay · energy infrastructureNation

Uruguay · energy infrastructure. Projects and connections remain fragmented or broken / A durable plan coordinates sources, networks and investments — Projects and connections remain fragmented or brokenA durable plan coordinates sources, networks and investments

Energy · Institutional case and data

Plan the grid beyond one electoral term

The continuity of the rules reduces uncertainty for infrastructures that require years of design and use.

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France · electricity systemNation

France · electricity system. Low-emission production is being replaced by fossil fuels / Low-emission capacities and new sources coordinate — Low-emission production is being replaced by fossil fuelsLow-emission capacities and new sources coordinate

Energy · Budget and comparison of scenarios

Compare what would replace a power plant

To evaluate an opening or closing, it is necessary to know which production will take its place and at what times.

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Iceland · Reykjavík areaTerritory

Iceland · Reykjavík area. Homes depend on fuel for heating / A network uses geothermal resources suitable for the location — Homes depend on fuel for heatingA network uses geothermal resources suitable for the location

Energy · Documented system

Bring heat up from underground

Where geology allows it, wells and heat networks can replace fuels in homes.

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Australia · suburban neighborhoodNation

Australia · suburban neighborhood. Available roofs and network not suitable for local generation / Diffused photovoltaic with connections and grid management — Available roofs and network not suitable for local generationDiffused photovoltaic with connections and grid management

Energy · Register of installations

Make rooftops part of the electricity system

Connection rules and incentives may make it feasible to produce solar electricity on existing buildings.

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How to read these stories

From a promise to an accountable plan

Each story separates observed results, estimates and possible scenarios. The illustrations explain a contrast; they are not historical photographs or guaranteed forecasts. A vote contributes to representation, while outcomes also depend on institutions, funding and implementation.

Cases inform questions about public choices. They do not rank parties or countries, and a single vote is not converted into personal CO₂ savings. Historical cases also include places without freely contested local elections.

Who has the authority to act?
What funding and timetable are proposed?
Which public indicators will show progress?
Who benefits, who pays, and what alternatives exist?