The fires, likely to be the costliest in world history, were made about 35% more likely due to the 1.3°C of global warming that has occurred since preindustrial times.

Even when developers and city officials are on board with constructing walkable neighborhoods, a little-known culprit can block the projects.

But a New York-based company called Afterlife Ag has found a better use for those food scraps. Cofounder Winson Wong says his company collects food waste from restaurants and stores, grinds it down, ...