Successes and challenges for advancing the sustainability of cities in two key focus areas are highlighted in the Country-Level Snapshots report compiled and recently released by the Clean Energy Ministerial’s Global Sustainable Cities Network (GSCN). The snapshots showcase waste-to-energy and demand-side management efforts in cities.

The snapshots reveal a variety of successes. For example, in the Finnish region of Lahti, 90% of waste produced is recycled or used in energy production. In Denmark’s city of Sonderborg, ProjectZero has already resulted in a 16% reduction in carbon emissions, helping the city make progress toward its goal of zero emissions by 2029. In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the Estidama pearl rating system, which enhances the energy performance of new buildings, is now required for new construction in Abu Dhabi. And in Sweden’s city of Linköping, all municipal buses are powered by biogas produced from wastewater treatment plants and landfill waste.

Please read more on the Clean Energy Ministerial website here.