A Research and Innovation Agenda for Zero-Emission European Cities

Francesco Fuso Nerini, Adriaan Slob, Rebecka Ericsdotter Engström and Evelina Trutnevyte
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Francesco Fuso Nerini: Unit of Energy Systems Analysis, KTH—Royal Institute of Technology, 114 28 Stockholm, Sweden
Adriaan Slob: TNO Strategic Analysis and Policy, NL-2509 Den Haag, The Netherlands
Rebecka Ericsdotter Engström: Unit of Energy Systems Analysis, KTH—Royal Institute of Technology, 114 28 Stockholm, Sweden
Evelina Trutnevyte: Section of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Renewable Energy Systems group, Institute of Environmental Sciences, University of Geneva, CH-1211 Geneva, Switzerland

Sustainability, 2019, vol. 11, issue 6, 1-13

Abstract: The Paris Agreement and SDG13 on Climate Action require a global drop in Green House Gases (GHG) emissions to stay within a “well below 2 degrees” climate change trajectory. Cities will play a key role in achieving this, being responsible for 60 to 80% of the global GHG emissions depending on the estimate. This paper describes how Research and Innovation (R&I) can play a key role in decarbonizing European cities, and the role that research and education institutions can play in that regard. The paper highlights critical R&I actions in cities based on three pillars: (1) innovative technology and integration, (2) governance innovation, and (3) social innovation. Further, the research needed to harmonize climate mitigation and adaptation in cities are investigated.

Keywords: cities´ decarbonization; European Union; zero carbon cities; smart cities; circular economy; governance; social innovation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (7)

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