About 56% of the world’s population, or around 4.4 billion people, currently lives in cities, a number expected to rise to nearly 70% by 2050. Urban areas are crucial economic hubs but experience rapid growth that leads to increased energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Cities use about 75% of the world’s energy and produce 70% of its emissions, with these figures likely to rise.

This document offers guidance for local and regional governments on integrating energy considerations into urban planning and serves as a reference for further research in specific contexts.