Renewable Energy in Cities in a Global Flux
In this article, Kes McCormick at Lund University in Sweden, discusses the key findings and recommendations from the Renewables in Cities Global Status Report and connects these points to the idea of using a “flux mindset” from a book called Flux: Eight Superpowers for Thriving in Constant Change.
We find ourselves in a period of global flux due to the pandemic, political and economic tensions in many parts of the world including growing inequality and injustice, and the immense climate and ecological crisis confronting humanity. A fundamental transformation in the face of these many challenges is a dramatic shift away from fossil fuels and towards renewable energy. Energy systems are traditionally the realm of national and regional governments but cities are increasingly recognised as key sites for collaborative action on energy transitions.
As a contributor to the recent “Renewables in Cities Global Status Report”, it is interesting to reflect on its key findings and recommendations for action. This report provides an overview of the status, trends and developments of renewable energy in cities. A starting point for the report is that decarbonising heating, cooling and transport, which together represent more than 80% of final energy demand, requires local solutions. Cities are therefore essential to moving towards renewable energy and helping to define and implement a sustainable development and energy agenda at the local, national and global levels.
But a key challenge for renewable energy in cities is being able to both navigate in a constantly changing world as well as embrace the disruption and transformations in systems and structures that shifting away from fossil fuels entails. For help, we can explore the idea of the “flux mindset” that has recently gained some attention through a book called “Flux: Eight Superpowers for Thriving in Constant Change”. Using a “flux mindset” means “unsticking your mind from the constructs and assumptions that you hold unconsciously” and that you can “understand that change is an ally” rather than a threat as well as do this collaboratively in teams and organisations.
It is worth considering the implications of the “flux mindset” in relation to the Renewables in Cities Global Status Report, which is the result of a hugely collaborative effort with more than 330 data contributors and peer reviewers, and over 30 individual interviews from around the world. The report aims to inform decision makers and policy makers and to create an active exchange of views and information on renewable energy in cities. The report provides five overall findings that are summarised here with a set of key comments and reflections that relate to the “flux mindset”.
“Cities around the world are taking action to accelerate the global uptake of renewable energy. City governments increasingly recognise the potential of renewables to help create clean, liveable and equitable cities. Overall, more than 1 billion people lived in a city with a renewable energy target and/or policy in 2020.” The shift towards renewable energy is underway in cities in many places but the transformation is only in its early stages in terms of shifting structures, investments and most importantly mindsets.
“To achieve their energy and climate targets, municipal governments have procured renewable energy for their own operations, scaled up renewable energy generation on public buildings and for municipal fleets, and expanded their policy portfolios to encourage the uptake of renewable energy city-wide.” Municipal governments can directly expand renewable energy in their own operations, particularly in buildings and fleets, but even more relevant is that municipal governments can act as an enablers for city-wide change processes and change agents.
“Cities are both consumers and producers of energy. Because cities — their governments, inhabitants, and commercial and industrial entities — account for around 75% of global final energy use, they have the potential to drive a substantial amount of renewable energy deployment.” As both consumers and producers of energy, cities through urban actors can influence the design and deployment of renewable energy but this requires embracing an active rather than passive relationship with energy systems and urban transformation.
“Global investment in renewable energy capacity has trended upward for the last decade, and the pandemic has not hampered this sustained growth.” As suggested, a dramatic shift away from fossil fuels is underway and an accelerating path towards renewable energy will be propelled by massive global investment in the coming decades. It will be imperative to facilitate the transition in cities and communities, and ensure the benefits of renewable energy are widely and evenly distributed.
“Citizens have been increasingly active in engaging in the energy transition, as well as in creating markets for renewable energy at the local level. Among other steps, they have strengthened their roles as prosumers, formed urban community energy projects and participated in urban energy and climate planning.” Citizens and diverse collaborations of urban actors who drive change towards renewable energy and remain flexible in the context of new innovations and new possibilities are important ingredients for the success of local solutions.
Kes McCormick is an Associate Professor at Lund University in Sweden. He is engaged in a range of research and innonation projects working with impact, including Sharing Cities Sweden and Naturvation. He also coordinates the City Futures Academy — an online learning community on sustainable cities.
This article is part of the IIIEE Energy Blog bringing together insights on global warming, sustainability and energy futures.
