Now in its sixth year, the World Changing Ideas Awards focuses on social good, seeking to elevate finished products and brave concepts that make the world better. This year the program received almost 3,000 entries and showcases 39 winners, 350 finalists, and about 600 honorable mentions. Sasaki is honored to be among the 2022 honorees.

Read on for more information about each project.

Climate.Park.Change.

Green spaces are essential in every community, but few comprehensive resources exist to support park and recreation professionals and their communities with strategies to combat climate change. In response, Sasaki, in partnership with NRPA, created Climate.Park.Change., a web-based data solution that provides a comprehensive examination of regional climate change risks and adaptation strategies. Developed through extensive research and interviews, Climate.Park.Change. is the first tool to clearly communicate and showcase strategies in Operation and Maintenance, Ecological Functionality and Park Users to help communities of all sizes to create climate-ready parks and build community and environmental resilience.

Strategic Development Frameworks for Five Cities in Afghanistan

For centuries, Afghan cities were hubs of international commerce and culture. Today, after three decades of instability the country struggles to leverage economic and cultural assets, create prosperous cities, and meet the basic needs of the country’s burgeoning urban population. Herat, Jalalabad, Kandahar, Khost, and Mazar-e-Sharif are five of Afghanistan’s largest cities and serve as cultural and economic hubs for the nation. This project created a cohesive long-term vision for each of these cities while establishing a new paradigm for urban planning at the national level.