Two-thirds of the world’s energy consumed in cities

IUESA: Noting that one of the less considered aspects of urban development process is a mutual impact of cultural and economic development, Pourzarandi, the president of Iran Urban Economics Scientific Association said according to economics, an individual’s economic behavior is based on a rational advantage, but it should be noted that the type of people’s choices, even in relation to economic issues, is based on their beliefs and their peripheral culture.      

Saying that one of the issues that specify the relationship between these two categories is the role of culture in the optimization of energy consumption, he said according to the researches, although we have problems about pricing way in our country, major part of waste is due to socio-cultural issues.

Urban spaces will be tripled by the beginning of the twenty-first century for the next ۱۳ years and this causes the consumption of energy in cities increase dramatically, Pourzarandi said.

Adding that cities account for more than two-thirds of the world’s energy consumption, he said any change in energy consumption in the metropolitan area can change the consumption equation globally.

Saying that particular attention has been paid to infrastructures to promote efficiency and saving energy consumption in resistance economy, he further said only by optimizing energy consumption, it will be possible to save $ ۱۰۰ billion for the country. Even if ۱۰% of this figure is realized, it can make a leap in the country’s growth path.

According to some estimates, nearly half of the energy consumption in the country comes from households. If the pattern of consumption is to change, the first goal should be to change the pattern of household consumption, especially in the city, Pourzarandi added.

Dr. Pourzarandi said some statistics indicate that energy consumption in our country is ۷۰% higher than the global average. The Iranians consume electricity three times compared to global norm and gasoline consumption is said to be several times the world’s average.

Providing solutions to change the pattern of urban household consumption, chair of the international conference on urban economy said tax on excessive consumption, reducing government duties for low-income households; encouraging producers to deliver low-income and high-quality products to low-income households at a macroeconomic level can be useful. On the other hand, all cultural instruments, including the media, should be used to encourage people in this field.

Referring to the second international conference on urban economy, he said one of the main topics of the conference is to focus on modifying the pattern of energy consumption in cities.