Rome, January 22nd 2019
A recent report by IRENA (International Renewable Energy Agency) on The Geopolitics of the Energy Transformation, examines how the energy transformation driven by renewables is expected to change the world geopolitics and points out the crucial role of cities in shaping the new energy word.
The hard facts are that by the middle of this century, around 70% of the world’s population is expected to live in cities, which already today consume around two-thirds of generated energy and produce 70% of the world’s carbon emissions. Also because of this, Cities are the ideal playground for sustainable innovations. New players and new services to citizens emerge around the “shared economy”, and measures to contain environmental impact are deployed while local administrations try to address social inequalities.
At the same time, as the IRENA report highlights, Cities are also particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change, including coastal flooding and urban heat island effects. This makes the debate about cities increasingly more connected to the change in their geopolitical role and to the need to develop their resilience and improve life of all their citizens.
Enel Foundation has joined this debate contributing this time with two articles for the latest edition of ISPI (Italian Institute for International Political Studies) on-line dossier dedicated to the evolution sustainable cities”. In line with the Foundation’s scientific research on megacities, resilience and circular economy, the contribution aims to highlight the paramount need to focus analysis and actions around social sustainability issues for city dwellers and the city as a whole with a circular economy mindset.
As cities and local municipalities form global alliances and networks are growing, including C40, ICLEI and the global covenant of mayors, they are adding a new layer of global governance to the international stage, driving action to achieve decarbonization, sustainability, and greater resilience through renewables generation and digital distribution networks.
How will the future look like for Global Cities? Find out more at the ISPI website and see below the two co-authored papers by Enel Foundation.
Cities of Tomorrow: The Circular Cities
By Luca Meini , ENEL; Angelo Facchini, IMT School for Advanced Studies and ISC- NCR; Carlo Papa, Enel Foundation
The Challenge Of Resilience: A Tool to Support City Planners
By Sanjaya Bhatia, United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction; Mutarika Pruksapong, United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction; Carlo Papa, Enel Foundation