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Where we will solve this challenge?
Check out the map to see all the cities that face similar challenges in this area!
How do we make energy more sustainable?
Cities consume 78% of the world’s energy and produce 60% of its emissions. As urban population increases worldwide, cities are crucial to emission reduction efforts.
Cities have a key role to play in the energy transition which is central to address climate change and resource scarcity. Cities tend to build and implement local energy strategies, often ignoring the global issues, and fail to consider mid-term and long-term scenarii. However, many European cities are increasingly attempting to define their local energy strategies integrating both economic and environmental impacts. Copenhagen (Denmark) aims to become the first carbon neutral city by 2025 and Perpignan (France) produces all the electricity for its residents locally by 2015. In order to be effective in their energy transition, cities need to coordinate local stakeholders, provide detailed and relevant diagnosis of their region, and identify the potential for energy savings and renewable substitution. Mid and long-term strategies need to integrate the whole energy value chain, from production, distribution and consumption.
Fields that need to be improved to reach a future of sustainable energy in the cities:
- The transport sector is responsible for approximately a quarter of total energy-related CO2 emissions.
- The built environement is of the utmost importance to increase energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy sources.
- Energy transition to a renewable energy system.
- Energy efficiency has to be increased at all stages of the energy chain.
- There is a growing need of new energy storage solutions and innovation
- Low carbon energy transport system has to be developed, etc.