Picture this: it’s a crisp morning in a bustling city like New York, and I’m rushing to catch the subway. The streets hum with energy—cyclists weaving through traffic, pedestrians chatting on sidewalks, electric scooters zipping by. But then comes the gridlock, the smog hanging in the air, and that nagging cough from weeks of inhaling exhaust. I’ve lived in cities most of my life, from the crowded lanes of London to the sprawling avenues of Los Angeles, and I’ve seen firsthand how our urban environments shape not just our days, but our well-being. As cities grow—projected to house 68% of…
