Cities are significant consumers of energy and contributors to carbon dioxide emissions. Cities are reporting to CDP that they are moving to reduce their contribution to climate change, with many using alternatives. In 2015, the number of cities reached to 308. It is equivalent to the area which nearly half a billion people and the combined population of the US, UK and France. Cities are taking to quit fossil fuel use. Currently, 96 cities (nearly a third) are taking action to decarbonize their energy supply, showing that cities are driving the transition to clean energy. Cities such as Stockholm, Sweden and San Francisco, USA have set the aggressive goal of reaching 100% clean electricity.

96 Cities - 1/3 of cities participating in CDP – are already taking action to decarbonize their electricity supply. And 86% of these cities say taking action on climate change presents an economic opportunity.  This could have a huge impact on global emissions: Cape Town alone could reduce its emissions by 1 million tones CO2e. That's the equivalent of 300 wind turbines. Across the globe cities are setting ambitious goals to encourage the shift to a low-carbon future. Santa Monica, San Francisco and Stockholm all have targets to get 100% of their electricity from renewables.  Aspen, which also disclosed its 100% renewable electricity target to CDP, has in fact achieved that goal this September.

Data disclosed to CDP this year reveals that in many countries, cities are helping drive the transition to renewable energy. Through their contribution to national targets and innovative identification of projects, cities are showing that the shift to clean energy is within our reach.