The Impacts of Clean Energy on Sustainable Urban Development

As the world’s population rises exponentially, there is a simultaneous increase in anthropogenic activities and global emissions, speeding up climate change effects on our planet. Thus, there is an urgency to employ clean energy in sustaining our cities. However, what are the impacts of clean energy on sustainable urban development?

In 2020, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) estimated that cities account for 70 per cent of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions and face natural disasters such as flooding and heat stress because of climate change. For this reason, the united nations, through its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), have called for the promotion of clean energy towards sustainable urban development.

Achieving sustainable development requires a significant transformation in how cities are built and managed. With buildings emitting more energy-related carbon globally than the entire transport sector, experts say adopting green building standards in the housing industry can reduce carbon emissions and increase resilience to the effects of climate change.

As urban cities become congested, waste generation and disposal become critical. However, anaerobic decomposition could provide a solution. Methane-rich biogas is produced when biodegradable waste is decomposed in the absence of oxygen. If the decomposed waste is from non-fossil sources such as food and green waste, the biogas produced can help offset carbon emissions, generate energy and provide a solution to growing waste disposal issues.

Incorporating solar or wind energy into urban planning is also necessary to diversify the energy mix of future cities. These renewable energy sources do not produce the harmful greenhouse gases (GHG) associated with traditional fossil fuels. Solar and wind energy can also help to improve air quality in cities, which is particularly important for the health and well-being of residents.

It makes economic sense that the impacts of clean energy on sustainable urban development be harnessed. In Nigeria, incorporating clean energy in urban designs will grow wealth and create jobs while contributing to global climate action. In addition, it will create opportunities in research, development, and manufacturing, leading to a more diverse and resilient economy.

Several countries have begun incorporating clean energy into their cities. For example, South Africa is exploring the production and use of biofuels in transport, using renewables for facilities such as depots and transport interchanges, and replacing the municipal diesel bus fleet with electric buses. Sweden also aims to be the first fossil fuel-free country in the world. According to the country’s official site, about 75 per cent of electricity production comes from hydroelectric (45 per cent) and nuclear (30 per cent) power. 

It is worth noting that Nigeria has made some efforts towards promoting sustainable urban development through ambitious targets and programs. One such effort is the Nigerian energy transition plan that hopes to guide the country to achieve net zero by 2060. Despite this, Nigeria’s energy mix currently relies heavily on fuel fossils.

Adopting clean energy for sustainable urban development would require promoting eco-friendly substitutes for raw materials for urban settlements, investing in green public spaces, and improving urban planning and management through participation and inclusion. In addition, sustainability discussions must be fostered with concerted efforts from all stakeholders, including governments, the private sector, and civil society.

Building sustainable cities cannot take a back seat in fighting for a better Nigeria. More initiatives that place sustainability at the core of urban development must vigorously be encouraged if we must leave a habitable planet for generations to come.