Energy use in over 3,600 cities worldwide have the capacity to boost renewables use and transform and decarbonize their energy by 2030, according to International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) report released Tuesday.
According to the new report, "Renewable Energy in Cities" which was announced on the sidelines of the Habitat III Conference in Quito, the capital of Ecuador, energy use has been assessed and their potential to scale-up renewable energy by 2030 has been explored.
The report finds that every city has massive potential to cost-effectively boost clean energy use at a local level.
IRENA Director General Adnan Z. Amin said that "cities can play a transformative role in leading the world to a clean and sustainable energy future."
"We have to rethink the entire urban energy landscape, which requires rigorous planning and holistic decision-making. Renewable energy, combined with energy efficiency, will power the future growth of cities. We must ensure this transition happens as soon as possible," he added.
The report found electricity usage varies widely across cities depending on climate conditions, population density and development stage. Likewise, energy use for transport varies greatly depending on urbanization. However, renewables supply only 20 percent of this energy, but asserted that much more is possible.
The "Renewable Energy in Cities" report outlines three priority areas in which cities can take action to scale up renewables:-
1. Renewable energy in buildings (for heating, cooling, cooking, and appliances)
2. Sustainable options for transport (electric mobility and biofuels)
3. Creating integrated urban energy systems
Accounting for 65 percent of global energy use and 70 percent of man-made carbon emissions, cities must play a key role in the transition to a low-carbon economy, the report reveals.
"By 2050, urban populations are expected to double, making urbanization one of this century’s most transformative trends,” Amin said.
"Now is the time to grow with renewables, leapfrog dirty technology, and create cities of the future that people are proud to call home," he concluded.
By Gulsen Cagatay
Anadolu Agency
gulsen.cagatay@aa.com.tr