Research
Urban Energy Project

Sixty to eighty percent of the energy used in OECD countries occurs in cities.^[1] Increasingly, municipal governments are becoming aware of their role in the energy arena. Many are now seeking ways to actively mitigate global climate change on the local level, through alterations in the types and/or amounts of energy consumed in cities. Effective policy will require understanding of the various available technological solutions and the many institutional factors influencing their implementation in diverse urban settings.

The Urban Energy Project at Columbia University's Center for Energy, Marine Transportation and Public Policy (CEMTPP) conducts research on urban energy markets, governance, and technology and their implications for climate change efforts and other important public policy goals.^[2] Led by Professor Stephen Hammer, the Center's research provides local policymakers and other stakeholders with an understanding of the institutional and other system barriers to (or sometimes, opportunities for) change. Its interdisciplinary approach involves economists, planners, regulatory specialists, and technology experts, both from within the Columbia University community and at partner institutions around the world.

CEMTPP's Urban Energy Project comprises:

• Original research on local energy governance and markets;
• Urban Energy Academy for local authorities and other market stakeholders;
• Secretariat of the Urban Climate Change Research Network (UCCRN); and
• Student research opportunities.

© 2008 CEMTPP