Cities are leading the way in the low-carbon revolution. According to new data from CDP, over 100 of the world’s cities are now getting at least 70 per cent of their electricity from renewable sources such as hydro, geothermal, solar and wind.

This list includes large cities such as Auckland (New Zealand), Nairobi (Kenya), Oslo (Norway), Seattle (USA) and Vancouver (Canada) and is more than double the 40 cities that were powered by at least 70 per cent clean energy in 2015.

Even more impressive is that over 40 cities now operate on 100 per cent renewable electricity, including Switzerland’s Basel and Iceland’s Reykjavík. In Basel, most of the electricity comes from hydropower, while Reykjavík is powered by both hydropower and geothermal. Iceland’s capital is also now working to make all cars and public transit fossil-free by 2040.

“Cities are responsible for 70 per cent of energy-related CO2 emissions and there is immense potential for them to lead on building a sustainable economy,” said Kyra Appleby, Director of Cities at CDP. 

“Reassuringly, our data shows much commitment and ambition. Cities not only want to shift to renewable energy but, most importantly – they can… The time to act is now.”

The new data was released ahead of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) conference in Edmonton, Canada on 5th March, when city government and science leaders will discuss the role of cities in tackling climate change.