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reducing CO2 emissions in municipal buildings, in part by undertaking deep renovations of 600 public schools to save 65 gigawatt hours of electricity per year. More than 2,000 of such measurable actions have been taken by C40 cities around the globe.Cities are naturally positioned to make these kinds of changes. The density of human, economic and intellectual capital in the world’s cities can be a driving force for the acceleration of clean energy development and deployment. As more and more cities take the opportunity to act as innovation hubs and test beds for sustainable urban energy technology, the closer the whole world will be to providing secure, sustainable and affordable energy for all.Yet this same density that results in a concentration of human capital also results in an ever-increasing demand for power. Over the coming decades hundreds of millions of people will gain access to electricity, a large percentage of these people will live in urban centres. Meeting the twin goal of access to energy and climate sustainability will require cutting the carbon emission intensity of power plants – that is, reducing the amount of CO2 that is released out for each megawatt generated.Unfortunately, many of the megacities of the world, particularly those in Asia, are still powered by antiquated subcritical coal-fired power plants. These have a modelled emissions intensity of just under 1,000 kg of CO2 per megawatt-hour. More modern, highly efficient coal-fired power plants may have an intensity of around 800kg/MWh, yet a natural gas turbine can reach about 350kg/MWh. The good news is that a major shift in investment towards low-carbon sources of power generation is underway. New low-carbon generation – renewables and nuclear – from capacity coming online in 2015 exceeded the entire growth of global power demand in the same year. Renewables investment, primarily in wind, solar PV and hydropower was almost US$290 billion. Technological progress and economies of scale are driving down the cost of renewables.However, in order to achieve a low-carbon transition consistent with climate objectives, the current rate of investment in energy efficiency, renewables and other low-carbon technologies needs to be maintained up to 2020 then increased rapidly in the following decade. Achieving this requires overcoming several hurdles. First, while improvements in costs will inevitably reduce the amount of investment needed for wind and solar, deep reforms of electricity regulation and system operation will be necessary to effectively integrate these technologies into the power system. Second, while nuclear investments reached their highest level in over two decades in 2015, they are concentrated in one country: China. In OECD countries, planned nuclear energy investments are insufficient to maintain current generation levels given expected retirements. Low wholesale electricity prices, insufficient or non-existent carbon prices and persistent project management problems are deterring investment in both new reactors and lifetime extensions. Third, while seven CCS projects are under construction, the outlook for CCS has been clouded by the diminished appeal of enhanced oil recovery due to low oil prices. This is exacerbated by continued uncertainty about how quickly CO2 capture costs can be reduced.Over the coming decades, millions of people will move into the world’s cities, and millions more will be plugging in modern appliances and switching on lighting for the first time in their lives. This is good news. This is the goal of economic and social development. The challenge for the governments of the world will be ensuring that this progress goes hand in hand with a sustainable and affordable energy system. While entry into force of the Paris Agreement will be something to be applauded, it is just the beginning of a long and difficult – but exciting – journey. I am incredibly fortunate to have the responsibility of leading the IEA as it strives to produce the guidance and recommendations to assist its members and others through this journey and into the brighter years ahead. ■Pictured: Dr Fatih BirolAbout the Author:Dr Fatih Birol took office as the Executive Director of the International Energy Agency (IEA) on 1 September 2015, ushering in a new era for the global energy authority. GLOBAL VOICES 099