Annual Compendium of Best Practices on Carbon Neutral Cities in East Asia (2024 Edition)
According to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the global average near-surface temperature in 2023 was 1.45°C above the pre-industrial baseline, making it the warmest year on record[1]. This temperature increase has led to catastrophic climate-related events, from the wildfire in Canada to the heatwave in Europe[2]. Climate change is no longer a distant threat; this is already affecting our lives profoundly.
Cities are estimated to account for approximately three-quarters of global energy consumption and 70% of GHG emissions, making mitigating cities’ carbon emissions critical in pursuing carbon neutrality. Among global cities, East Asian metropolises play a pivotal role in this transition. With their large populations and robust economies, these cities contribute significantly to GHG emissions due to high energy consumption and reliance on fossil fuels. However, these cities are also at the forefront of climate solutions, ranging from renewable energy initiatives to the widespread adoption of electric vehicles (EVs).
Against this backdrop, ICLEI East Asia launched the East Asia Carbon Neutral Cities Accelerator in 2024. This project aims to identify and disseminate effective and innovative climate solutions, strengthen the capabilities of local policymakers, and promote the integration of global best practices into local policy-making.
One of the project’s key outputs is the Annual Compendium of Best Practices on Carbon Neutral Cities in East Asia. This 2024 compendium will showcase the latest innovative climate actions undertaken by East Asian megacities, including Seoul‘s Climate Card project, Kyoto’s Photovoltaics Platform, and Hong Kong’s Land Lease Regulation Update for EV Charging Network. By documenting and sharing these experiences, ICLEI East Asia aims to inspire other cities to follow suit and scale up their climate actions, thus accelerating the global journey towards net-zero emissions.
[1] Climate change indicators reached record levels in 2023: WMO. World Meteorological Organization. (2024, March 18). https://wmo.int/news/media-centre/climate-change-indicators-reached-record-levels-2023-wmo
[2] Masters, J. (2024, January 18). A record 63 billion-dollar weather disasters hit Earth in 2023. Yale Climate Connections. https://yaleclimateconnections.org/2024/01/a-record-63-billion-dollar-weather-disasters-hit-earth-in-2023/