Professor, UALBERTA University
His international works include high density rural regions of India, effects of tall buildings in Colombo, Sri Lanka and evaluation of housing affordability programs in the United Arab Emirates. His newly co-authored book “Understanding India’s new Approach to Spatial planning and Development: A Salient Shift?” is published by the Oxford University Press. He recently completed a SSHRC/IRCC funded project on documenting the settlement experience of Syrian refugees in Alberta. His SSHRC-funded pan-Canadian work on human rights are currently ongoing. Dr. Agrawal is the inaugural Director of the University of Alberta’s School of Urban and Regional Planning.
The three main global energy concerns of providing access to modern energy, enhancing the security of the energy supply, and minimising the impact of energy systems on the climate have an impact on both national and international energy governance. To develop solutions that address the many facets of these difficulties, however, a variety of actors and stakeholders must be included due to the complexity of the energy challenges.
Cities are responsible for more than 70% of the world’s energy consumption and 40% to 50% of its greenhouse gas emissions. Managing increasing urbanisation is a challenge, and nations must deal with the effects it will have on the environment in terms of energy and climate.
Our transition to a future with lower carbon emissions depends heavily on buildings. They are our places of residence, rest, and employment; they also account for around one-third of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions and nearly 40% of the world’s energy usage.