New Energy World™
New Energy World™ embraces the whole energy industry as it connects and converges to address the decarbonisation challenge. It covers progress being made across the industry, from the dynamics under way to reduce emissions in oil and gas, through improvements to the efficiency of energy conversion and use, to cutting-edge initiatives in renewable and low-carbon technologies.
Moving towards net zero cities
29/3/2023
8 min read
Feature
Towns and cities across continental Europe have been ramping up their decarbonisation ambitions, paving the way for major carbon emission reductions on the road to net zero. New Energy World’s Brian Davis reports on initiatives which found that linking energy generation, distribution and use can pay significant dividends.
Some 53 cities from across 21 European countries and Horizon 2020 associated research project countries such as the UK, Norway, Turkey and Ukraine, have been invited to embark on ambitious climate action through the NetZeroCities Pilot Cities programme, managed by the Mission Platform of the EU Mission on Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities.
Pilot cities, which include Bristol in the UK, Drammen in Norway, Aachen in Germany, Budapest in Hungary, Leuven in Belgium, Nantes in France and Rivne in Ukraine, are aiming to set the urban climate transition on a new trajectory. Innovative programmes span multiple initiatives, from boosting building energy efficiency to waste management; demonstrating ‘levers of change’ with more democratic participation, social innovation and governance; with improved finance and policy; while deploying new technology, services and smart infrastructure.
The pilot cities will experiment with new ways to decarbonise rapidly over the course of a two-year programme. Each will be taking a systemic, ‘multi-lever’ approach to transforming urban energy operations, with other cities encouraged to replicate or scale up with relevant solutions.