Background

The importance of cities in the energy transition cannot be underestimated as they account for more than 70% of global CO2 emissions. At the same time, the urbanisation trend is continuing, and in 2030, it is projected that there will be 43 Mega Cities (cities with a population of 10 million or more) globally, and 35 will be in the Asia Pacific region. It is clear cities in the Asia Pacific region play a vital role in the transition towards a low carbon society, and efforts have to be made to introduce efficient, sustainable, and integrated energy systems and solutions.

2021 is the year of COP26 and the year when the world will begin to recover from the COVID19 pandemic. It is interesting that although countries have taken strong measures to reduce the spread of the coronavirus, GHG emissions have only dropped around 7% in 2020 compared to 2019. This highlights the enormous effort the world is facing to achieve the goal of the Paris Agreement of limiting global warming to 1,5 degrees Celsius compared to pre-industrial levels by reaching peak emissions as soon as possible and becoming climate neutral by 2050.

Building on the ACEF 2021 theme, “Accelerating the Low Carbon Transition in the Asia and the Pacific”, this session aims to explore and discuss challenges and opportunities that cities in the Asia Pacific are facing to develop sustainable and carbon-neutral urban energy systems and how it is possible to accelerate the transition to a low carbon society post COVID19.