March, 24 2010, 10:39am EDT
100% Renewable Energy for Cities Is Possible
Rio de Janeiro/Hamburg
Climate change is to a large
degree caused by
the fossil fuel consumption by cities and is a huge threat to urban
areas at
the same time. It is alarming that neither industrialised nor developing
countries have coherent strategies for efficient, renewable energy
supply for
their cities. And there is little sign of appropriate, practical
measures being
taken.
A
Seven-Point-Plan, which encourages cities to set their own goal at 100%
renewable energy supply, is the core element of the report "100%
Renewable Energy - and Beyond - for Cities". This was presented by
the World Future Council and Hamburg's HafenCity University at the
biggest global cities summit, the World Urban Forum, in Rio de Janeiro
today.
Stefan
Schurig, Head of Climate and Energy at the World Future Council: "If we
do not succeed in the next few years in making a U-turn in metropolitan
energy
supply it will be impossible to tackle climate change effectively. Some
75% of
global consumption of resources, including fossil fuels, occurs in and
around
cities. Hence it is absolutely essential that every city deals with the
urgency
of the issue at hand and sets itself 100% renewable energy supply
targets and
appropriate implementation strategies. Our Seven-Point-Plan aims to help
cities
to formulate suitable strategies according to their individual
circumstances
and locations."
The
plan addresses the need for regulatory measures as well as incentives at
urban
and national levels. Options that involve private businesses and
facilitate
planning and permission processes are also explored. In addition to
renewable
energy development the report stresses the benefits of so-called "carbon
sinks", for example the targeted development of green areas for CO2
capture and storage. It emphasises the importance of education and well
targeted information for the general public.
The
report proposes appropriate measures that can be carried out within a
city.
However, for larger cities and metropolitan areas it also explores the
potential supply of renewable energy from their hinterland or from
further
afield.
The
report was initiated by the joint commission on Cities and Climate
Change of
the World Future Council and Hamburg's HafenCity University. It was
written by commission member Prof. Peter Droege and Anis Radzi from the
University of Liechtenstein in collaboration with Nancy Carlisle, US
National
Renewable Energy Laboratory, Stefan Lechtenbohmer, Wuppertal Institute,
and
Herbert Girardet, Director of Programmes at the World Future Council.
The full
report can be downloaded as a PDF-document from the World Future Council
website at https://worldfuturecouncil.org/publications.html.
The World Future Council (WFC) works to pass on a healthy and sustainable planet with just and peaceful societies to our children and grandchildren. To achieve this, we focus on identifying, developing, highlighting and spreading effective, future-just policies for current challenges humanity is facing and promote their implementation worldwide.
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