The Nature of Our Cities: Harnessing the Power of the Natural World to Survive a Changing Planet-New Condition

Im optimistic [Nadinas] work will guide us towards practical steps for a greener, brighter future, benefiting generations young and old.
— Dan Buettner, #1 New York Times best-selling author of The Blue Zones

Enlightening and empowering...a must-read for anyone seeking to understand how to leverage the power of nature to improve our lives.
— Michael Easter, New York Times best-selling author of The Comfort Crisis and Scarcity Brain

...a deeply insightful blueprint for the future of our connection to the outdoors — and a delightful joy to read.
— Robin Thurston, Founder & CEO of Outside Interactive Inc.

In the tradition of Elizabeth Kolbert and Michael Pollan, THE NATURE OF OUR CITIES is a stirring exploration of how innovators from around the world are combining urban nature with emerging technologies, protecting the planets cities from the effects of climate change and safeguarding the health of their inhabitants.

We live in an age when humanity spends 90% of its time indoors, yet the nature around us—especially in Americas cities—has never been more vital. This distancing from nature has sparked crises in mental health, longevity, and hope for the next generation, while also heightening the risks we face from historic floods, heatwaves, and wildfires. Indeed, embracing nature holds untapped potential to strengthen and fortify our cities, suburbs, and towns, providing solutions spanning flood preparation, wildfire management, and promoting longevity. As ecological engineer Dr. Nadina Galle argues, nature is our most critical infrastructure for tackling the climate crisis. It just needs a little help.

A fellow at MITs Senseable City Lab and selected for Forbes 30 under 30 list, Galle is at the forefront of the growing movement to fuse nature and technology for urban resilience. In THE NATURE OF OUR CITIES, she embarks on a journey as fascinating as it is pressing, showing how scientists and citizens from around the world are harnessing emerging technologies to unlock the power of the natural world to save their cities, a phenomenon she calls the Internet of Nature. Traveling the globe, Galle examines how urban nature, long an afterthought for many, actually points the way toward a more sustainable future. She reveals how technology can help nature navigate this precarious moment with modern advances such as:

Laser-mapping that identifies at-risk neighborhoods to fight deadly health disparities A.I.-powered robots that prevent wildfires from reaching urban areas Intelligent water gardens that protect cities from floods and hurricanes Advanced sensors that achieve 99% tree survival in dry, hot summers
Optimistic in spirit yet pragmatic in approach, Galle writes persuasively that the future of urban life depends on balancing the natural world with the technology that can help sustain it. By turns clear-eyed and lyrical, THE NATURE OF OUR CITIES marks the emergence of an invigorating, prescient new talent in nature writing.