Maimunah Mohd Sharif says city energy planning must align with energy system design

The energy transition does not simply mean replacing the old system; it is about expanding choices to create sustainability and flexibility in how cities are powered, stated former Executive Director of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) Maimunah Mohd Sharif during the "High-Level Energy and City Dialogue" held within the framework of the World Urban Forum (WUF13), Report informs.

According to her, the challenges the world faces today are not about the lack of solutions: "We already have the technologies, policies, and driving forces. The real gap is in the alignment between how we plan our cities and how we design our energy systems. Without this alignment, there is a risk that the transition process will proceed unevenly, which could further deepen inequalities among our urban communities."

She noted that the opportunities for cities are very clear: "Diversifying by integrating renewable energy, decentralized systems, and solutions adapted to local conditions. Because the transition does not simply mean replacing the old system; it is about expanding our choices to create sustainability and flexibility in how cities are powered."