Welcome to the
IEA Cities Technology Collaboration Programme
(Cities TCP)

Cities face enormous challenges when it comes to transforming and decarbonising their energy and transport systems. Cities need access to knowledge, expertise and resources to come up with the right solutions, skills, knowledge and resources often lacking in smaller communities. Cities TCP will help overcome urban challenges and will help with navigating through the wealth of knowledge and expertise of buildings-related TCPs. We do this by supporting and exchanging information within city networks and advisors.

Cities are the largest consumers of energy produced worldwide – between 60 to 80% – and account for roughly an equal share of global CO₂ emissions ¹. In Europe, cities are also responsible for approximately 85% of the generated GDP. As 78% (and counting) of the European population lives in cities, they will need to play a significant role in achieving global energy and climate change targets. Particularly the transformation of the current energy and mobility systems, as well as advancements in the building sector (e.g., energy-oriented renovation or the development of new plus-energy districts) bear the potential for significant reductions of CO₂ emissions and the natural resource demand. Although it is apparent, that the decarbonisation challenge has to be tackled immediately to mitigate critical climate change effects, and to generate sustainable economies, cities lag behind their expected contributions. Cities TCP aims to accelerate the contribution that can be made to the energy transition making decarbonisation a top priority of cities.