Type: Solution
As the climate emergency intensifies, and energy demand continues to increase, not only does the source of our energy matter but how we consume it. A number of measures can be deployed by local governments to address energy demand, including greater digitalization through the use of smart grids and smart meters.
Reducing the amount of greenhouse gasses (GHG) emitted by cities is critical to tackle the current climate crisis. At the local level, cities might plan and execute policies related to renewable energy (RE), but they often face the challenge of obtaining funding for implementing RE projects, as the access to financial resources is usually locked behind the formulation of bankable projects. Unfortunately, local governments may not always have the technical capacity to create sound and structured RE projects, as expected by financial institutions.
Crowdfunding is where several individuals contribute small sums of money in order to fund a project. Given the low risk that each person takes on, crowdfunding can be an innovative financing tool, including for local renewable energy (RE) projects [1]. They can also help involve the local community in various ways, increasing buy-in and ensuring the long-term sustainability of the project [2]. This solution addresses the use of crowdfunding for the local energy transition, and how local and regional governments (LRGs) can take advantage of it while protecting the best interests of their communities.
Access to clean cooking is essential for leading a healthy and productive life. Clean cooking solutions comprise fuels and technologies that cause very little or no household air pollution. While the definition of ‘clean cooking’ varies, they all broadly include technical aspects (type of fuel, stove efficiency), environmental (exposure, ventilation, etc.) and social aspects (access). Various sources also define certain clean fuels based largely on their emissions of pollutants and greenhouse gases (GHG), including solar, biogas, natural gas, liquified petroleum gas (LPG), ethanol-based fuels. Other measures include other multi-dimensional factors, including exposure, fuel efficiency, safety, convenience, affordability, and availability. The focus of this solution is renewable sources and enablers that can be used for clean cooking, excluding fossil fuels such as natural gas and LPG that might meet the definition of clean cooking, but are not renewable.
Solar photovoltaic (PV) technology is an excellent option as an environmentally friendly alternative to fossil fuels, and will be a key technology in tackling the climate emergency since it exploits clean and renewable sources of energy.
Sector coupling is defined as the process of interconnecting power generating resources with energy consuming sectors such as the heating, transport, gas, and other. This is in order to economically optimize operations of the energy system and facilitate the integration of the intermittent renewables through enhanced energy system flexibility. There are two main strategies: first, through electrification by promoting electric mobility and replacing traditional heating systems with electric heat pumps, to use renewable electricity instead of fossil fuels. The second strategy is through “Power-to-X”, whereby synthetic fuels are produced from renewable electricity through transformation into heating (P2H) or cooling, gas (P2G), or liquid (P2L) for use in final consumption. The generated fuels and carriers such as hydrogen, methane, gasoline, or kerosene can also reduce CO2 emissions using the existing gas and heat infrastructure.
Multilevel governance is an approach to governance from the national to local level which provides a platform for fruitful interaction, joint planning and coordination, all of which are essential to the mutual reinforcement of approaches for addressing climate change, sustainable development, implementation and reporting.
Organic matter present in landfill experiences a biological decomposition under anaerobic conditions with an accompanying production of methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2) which contribute to the greenhouse effect and climate change. Sanitary landfills install a piping system for the removal of the landfill gas generated, thus minimizing combustion and explosion hazards. Even simple flaring of the landfill gas can minimize the climate change impact of waste disposal by converting methane into carbon dioxide, since the global warming potential of the first is over twenty times larger than the latter`s. Going one step further, the landfill gas can be collected and used for heat and/or electricity production, displacing the use of fossil fuels for the production of the same amount of energy.
Community-owned renewable energy projects involve a community in the development, operation, and/or benefit-sharing of a renewable energy installation. Through cost-sharing ownership models, these projects enable participants to own assets with a lower individual investment.
Just transition finance offers a transformative opportunity to drive equitable economic growth while addressing the multifaceted challenges of transitioning to a low-carbon future (ILO, 2024). By strategically directing financial resources, it not only fosters job creation in green industries but also supports skill development for displaced workers and encourages the establishment and expansion of sustainable enterprises. These targeted investments empower marginalized communities, particularly those in sectors most vulnerable to climate transitions, by creating pathways to new employment opportunities, opportunities, entrepreneurship, and local economic resilience (European Trading Foundation, 2023).
The impacts of climate change are being felt worldwide, ranging from extreme weather events to long-term challenges. To strengthen urban resilience, sub-national governments can adopt nature-based solutions (NbS). NbS are defined as cost-effective solutions inspired and supported by nature that provide environmental, social and economic benefits and help build resilience.
This Solution supports local governments in retrofitting existing district heating systems to make them more modern, energy efficient and cost-effective. It is applicable to old systems – from small to large – facing difficulties and which are owned, operated or regulated by the local government.