Collaboration
Sustainable City Building: Developing Global Network of Energy Transition with ICLEI and ICDI
To accelerate the adoption of sustainable energy practices, ITRI has taken a step towards expediting city energy transitions by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Local Governments for Sustainability (ICLEI) and International Climate Development Institute (ICDI) at the 2023 Smart City Summit & Expo. ICLEI is a renowned non-governmental organization that focuses on global sustainable urban development, whereas ICDI is a non-profit organization that addresses climate change and human rights issues. This partnership aims to support local and regional governments worldwide by encouraging industrial development, promoting energy transition, and enhancing their ability to fulfill energy and climate commitments.
The MoU signing ceremony was attended by ICLEI Secretary General Gino Van Begin (third from right), ITRI Vice President James Wang (second from right), and Cam Zhao ICDI Chief Executive Officer (first from right), along with several government and ICLEI representatives at the 2023 Smart City Summit & Expo.
At the heart of this partnership is the joint promotion of the Local Energy Governance Rating System (LEGRS), a comprehensive guideline for local governments and authorities to chart and execute an energy plan. Local governments can leverage various methodologies, allocate resources efficiently, and estimate a realistic timeline to achieve seamless energy transition. Drawing on real-world experiences in successful urban energy transition promotion, LEGRS is designed to guide local governments step-by-step in establishing policies and managing operations in energy governance. Furthermore, LEGRS is divided into six critical aspects and 32 indicators, making it an effective self-evaluation tool for policymakers and city planners to assess their readiness for energy transition. The four levels of readiness are Energy Transition Oriented, Energy Transition Ready, Ongoing Energy Transition, and Advanced Energy Transition, each with specific criteria that align with international energy certification and standards. To reach a certain level of readiness, local governments need to meet several criteria that are also integrated with international energy certification and standards. LEGRS is readily accessible online for all interested parties to download.
According to REN21 (2019), cities with high population density are responsible for almost 75% of the world's carbon dioxide emissions and consume around 76% of the world’s total final consumption (TFC). To mitigate the impact of cities on the environment, ITRI Vice President and General Director of Green Energy and Environment Research Laboratories James Wang pointed out how LEGRS could be a valuable tool for local government authorities. “Cities all over the world are not only major energy and resource consumers but also significant polluters. Local governments require actionable strategies to guide them in actions such as investing in energy infrastructure, formulating policies for constructing residential and commercial buildings, and developing the energy services industry. With LEGRS, local governments can identify the current stage of their city and how to improve it,” said Wang. He further highlighted what ITRI has to offer beyond the development of LEGRS. “To further encourage cities to implement net-zero transition, ITRI also provides LEGRS cities with energy policy consultations and customized technology support in sectors like green energy deployment, energy efficiency improvement, carbon capture and storage (CCS), and smart grids to help cities achieve their net-zero goals,” he said.
“ICLEI has been committed to bringing sustainability to a rapidly urbanizing world through practical, integrated solutions,” said ICLEI Secretary General Gino Van Begin. “Besides LEGRS, ICLEI has also been actively advocating various global campaigns and programs for local sustainable energy development.” These initiatives include the ICLEI Climate Neutrality Framework, the GreenClimateCities (GCC) Program, the 100% Renewables Cities and Regions Network, and CDP-ICLEI Track. With the ICLEI Kaohsiung Capacity Center (KCC) serving as the focal point of information, ICLEI will capitalize on ITRI’s expertise in global energy transition technologies and solutions to develop future initiatives, such as international project integration, talent cultivation programs, and pilot solutions. The ultimate goal is to assist local governments and cities in achieving their net-zero energy objectives.