Urban Energy Program
According to a 2008 International Energy Agency study, 67% of global energy use occurs in cities, a figure that will rise to 73% by 2030 given current population and urbanization trends. Around the world, cities have begun to examine their energy use and plan for a more sustainable energy future, employing a range of energy efficiency, energy conservation, and ‘clean energy’ strategies. 
Climate change concerns are giving a new prominence to these efforts, compounding longstanding worries over local energy security, air pollution levels, or economic competitiveness.
Shifting to a new energy path and reducing a city’s carbon footprint requires an understanding of the various technological solutions open to cities and the many institutional factors influencing their implementation. New policies and market instruments promoting the mitigation of, and adaptation to climate change are similarly complex when viewed at the city level.
The Urban Energy Program at Columbia University's Center for Energy, Marine Transportation and Public Policy (CEMTPP) employs innovative approaches to analyze urban energy markets, governance, and technology and their links to a wide range of important public policy goals. 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. Our work 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:
