A new report by the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) and Copenhagen Centre on Energy Efficiency (C2E2), ICLEI revealed that the world’s Private Energy Consumption could go as low as 50% if cities and governments can change their energy systems to the modern district ones.
According to the report that was launched on Thursday February 26th, cities around the world are responsible for 70% of global energy use and about 50% of greenhouse gas emissions.
“Cities are crucial partners in making Sustainable Energy for All a reality. With their help we can change the environment, change the way we produce and use energy and at the same time significantly mitigate climate change, accelerate economic development, reduce environmental pollution and alleviate extreme poverty and thereby making cities a lot more resilient,” said Kandeh Yumkella, UN Under-Secretary-General, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and CEO of the Sustainable Energy for All initiative.
The introduction of District Energy will help reveal how governments can reduce the greenhouse gas emissions and primary energy demand – and also keep in check the global temperature level.
“Our response and our ability to keep the world within a 2°C scenario, has led us to focus on district energy in cities. These are practical, reliable, bring benefits to consumers and they generate benefits in terms of our response to climate change,” said Achim Steiner, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UNEP.
“In launching this report, we want to draw attention of the world’s decision makers, mayors, leaders at the community level, to the importance of district energy systems and hopefully through the lessons learnt in many parts of the world, ensure that this is yet one more element of our response that will allow us to practice and draw upon solutions already in place, proven and part of the transition to a green economy.”
Check out the comprehensive report on its website.
