Urban areas represent 70% of greenhouse gas emissions: the new IEA report presented at the G7.

Source of the image: IEA

The latest G7 report presented by the IEA emphasizes the importance of integrating urban planning, digitalization, and improving distribution networks to effectively address the impacts of climate change and meet the growing energy demand of cities.

According to the document, adopting measures to reduce urban emissions is essential for achieving global energy and climate goals. Digital technologies emerge as crucial tools in this context, thanks to their ability to manage and optimize energy consumption patterns and existing infrastructures.

G7: Increasing Energy Efficiency in Urban Areas

The report, titled “Empowering Urban Energy Transitions: Smart Cities and Smart Grids” and drafted by the International Energy Agency (IEA) as part of the Digital Demand-Driven Electricity Networks initiative series, was recently presented at the G7 climate, energy, and environment summit in Turin.

Officially recognized by the participating ministers, the document explores a wide variety of innovative projects and initiatives aimed at improving urban energy systems globally and provides details on best practices in emerging phases.

The text highlights the need for cities to accelerate the race towards energy efficiency, citing as an example the goals discussed at the COP28 climate change conference in Dubai. Despite the progress of some metropolises towards sustainability and reducing CO2 emissions, a broader commitment is required.

Currently, urban areas account for about 75% of global energy consumption and 70% of greenhouse gas emissions, with prospects for further increase.

The document goes on to analyze the impact of climate change on cities, which are becoming increasingly large and densely populated. In particular, it highlights how energy consumption can double in hotter months compared to cooler periods, with cooling accounting for over 70% of electricity demand. The increasing electrification due to the use of heat pumps and electric vehicles poses significant challenges to distribution infrastructures.

G7: The Importance of Investments to Make Electric Grids More Flexible

The IEA report also underscores the importance of investments to make electric grids more flexible through digitalization, noting that to maintain the net-zero emissions target, the necessary annual investments in global grids will need to more than double by 2030, reaching about $750 billion.

It is estimated that approximately 75% of this spending will be dedicated to expanding, strengthening, and digitalizing distribution networks.

In this perspective, the report insists on the need to improve the alignment of planning timelines to minimize the risk of power outages and reduce delays in new electrical connections for renewable resources and other urban infrastructures. Better access to and use of data could accelerate the implementation of energy and climate goals and promote more integrated planning between cities and the energy system.