Roadmap for decarbonizing cities

Danfoss Impact No. 3

Our roadmap for decarbonizing cities outlines the technologies available to meet global climate goals and accelerate the green transition.

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The battle against climate change will be won - or lost - in cities

Cities account for two-thirds of global energy consumption and more than 70% of annual global carbon emissions. With more than half of the world’s population living in cities today – a number expected to increase to almost 70% in 2050 – we will not reach the goals of the Paris Agreement without a deep decarbonization of cities.

The most recent IPCC report exposed, the 1.5°C target is moving out of reach, and it’s likely that the world will exceed 1.5°C of warming in the near term if we “keep walking instead of sprinting.”

Climate change has already resulted in negative impacts on human well-being and key infrastructure in cities. To prevent the worst of the climate crisis, rapid, deep, and sustained change is necessary.

Cities offer some of the best possibilities to optimize urban planning and accelerate a green transition, and there are already accessible, cost-efficient technologies capable of cutting emissions sufficiently to meet global climate goals.

The solutions are there, but political leaders need to take action to scale them.

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These are the key takeaways

Energy efficiency

If all urban areas and cities in Europe, the US, and China invested in energy-efficient heating and cooling of buildings, this would contribute 20% of the emissions reductions needed in urban areas to reach the 1.5°C target of the Paris Agreement. Reducing energy waste is possible across sectors, and the technologies to do this are already accessible.

Electrification of urban transport needs a drastic acceleration

Similarly, an urgent political focus on the potential of electrifying the whole transport sector, including both maritime transport and heavy vehicles, is pivotal. If all urban areas and cities in Europe, the US, and China electrified their private and public transport, this would contribute 28% of the emissions reductions needed in urban areas to reach the 1.5°C target of the Paris Agreement. As we will see, technology for the electrification of cars, buses, and trucks, as well as marine equipment and transport such as city boats, ferries, and cranes, already exists.

Sector integration

Sector integration is an enabler of energy efficiency and electrification and can together with the build-out of renewables decarbonize the power supply to cities. In urban areas, the high density of buildings, infrastructure, and services makes it possible to connect urban energy-consumers with energy-producers and convert and store energy. Supermarkets, data centers, and wastewater facilities can all be turned from heavy energy consumers into energy suppliers.

Implementation of existing technology

Implementation of existing technology for buildings, transport, and sector integration can bridge half the gap in the urban GHG emissions reductions needed for a 1.5°C pathway.

Our world needs climate action on all fronts — everything, everywhere, all at once.

António Guterres

UN Secretary-General

Policy recommendations

A deep decarbonization of cities requires a comprehensive and holistic approach that involves multiple stakeholders, including local governments, businesses, and residents. In the following, some of the crucial initiatives are presented, although the list is not exhaustive.

Systematic energy-saving strategies can save energy across sectors

Reducing energy waste across sectors starts with mapping energy use to identify areas for improvement. Mandate energy planning, set ambitious and actionable short-, mid-, and long-term targets and plans, and a suitable regulatory framework to incentivize investments.

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Roadmap for decarbonizing cities - Danfoss Impact No. 3