The Paris Agreement sets a goal of limiting global warming to well below 2°C, preferably close to 1.5°C. To achieve this, global emissions need to be reduced – and quickly. They must drop to 26 GtCO2e in 2030, which means roughly halving current levels over the next 10 years. That’s why now, more than ever, we need to find new and more effective ways to decarbonise how we produce and consume our goods and services.

As we build up to COP26 in Glasgow in November, it is vital that we plan effective ways forward. So, what sectors should we prioritise in our decarbonisation efforts? Energy is key, and a sector which – as our new research shows – city governments can play an influential role in shaping.

The “3D transition”: decarbonisation, decentralisation and digitalisation

Our energy systems have a fundamental role to play in accelerating decarbonisation. In 2018, the power sector accounted for nearly two-thirds of global emissions growth. And this should not be too surprising, if we consider that 90% of the global population is currently connected to the electricity grid and the global energy system is still highly carbon intensive, with coal, oil and natural gas meeting 85% of all energy needs.

And yet, what is generally known as the energy transition – a transition toward cleaner, less emission-intensive energy systems – is already happening in a number of places. The decarbonisation of electricity is occurring through a mix of strategies, many of which increasingly rely on decentralisation and digitalisation as well. These are collectively known as the “3Ds”.

More: Full article at ODI