Cities account for about 75 per cent of global primary energy use and are responsible for 70 per cent of energy-related greenhouse gas emissions, writes an article on the opinion platform Modern Diplomacy. This is why ‘Renewable Energy Policies for Cities’, a new report published by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), has outlined the ways urban centres can support regional and national governments with the achievement of sustainable energy targets.
It cites examples from cities around the world, including Kasese, Uganda, where IRENA worked with the local municipal government to deploy SolarCityEngine, a web-based application to assist homes, businesses and municipal authorities in evaluating the potential of rooftop solar photovoltaics for energy provision. The resulting shift from kerosene lamps to solar power brought benefits such as improved health and money savings on electricity, according to the article.
The article also highlights Costa Rica, where there has been an increase in e-mobility infrastructure thanks to easy access to facilities and the cost efficiency of electric vehicles. Other examples cited range from wind-powered heating in Zhangjiakou, China, to geothermal energy for district heating in the Bogatić municipality of Serbia.
What these examples emphasise, writes the article, is “the importance of strong alignment between local and national governments, and of proactive local resident, community group and business engagement. For the global race to zero to move at an accelerated pace, the world’s urban environments must be empowered to take meaningful actions”.
