Urban energy efficiency and sustainability are critical challenges of the 21st century, as cities around the world face the complex task of balancing economic growth, environmental protection, and reduced energy consumption. The modern city, rapidly evolving, has become a central arena in which issues of climate justice, smart planning, and intergenerational responsibility are decided. The main challenge is twofold: on one hand, cities must meet growing energy demands driven by urbanization, population growth, and expanding economic activity. On the other hand, they are required to reduce pollutant emissions, lower their carbon footprint, and ensure environmental justice that safeguards quality of life and well-being, especially for the most vulnerable populations. This highlights the growing role of the local authority as a key actor in implementing, coordinating, and directing policy on the ground.

In recent decades, there has been increasing recognition that urban energy management is not merely a technological matter, but rather a complex endeavor requiring systemic thinking. Local authorities seek to navigate energy transitions through consumption efficiency, adoption of renewable energy sources, and the design of policies that promote sustainability while accounting for local needs. The challenges are uneven: while some cities succeed in implementing innovative solutions, others face budgetary, spatial, institutional, or social barriers that limit their ability to act. Hence, there is a growing need for tailored solutions: decentralized renewable energy systems, energy performance optimization in buildings, and economic incentives adapted to each municipality’s spatial-social-economic fabric. Only through a combination of systemic thinking and locally adapted, long-term planning can cities meet tomorrow's energy demands without compromising today's sustainability.

In Israel, geographic and climatic diversity must also be considered — from a Mediterranean climate along the coastal plain to arid conditions in the southern regions. One of the key adaptations needed is improving the energy performance of residential and commercial buildings to withstand rising temperatures, through thermal insulation, efficient cooling technologies, and strict construction quality oversight. The integration of passive cooling techniques and reflective materials can significantly reduce urban cooling demand. Municipal-level energy efficiency is not just an economic or environmental measure. Decentralized energy systems and the transition to renewables can enhance energy security in the complex geopolitical realities of our time.

Yatzkan, Or, Reuven Cohen, Eyal Yaniv, and Orit Rotem-Mindali. (2025) "Urban Energy Transitions: A Systematic Review." Land 14(3): 566. https://doi.org/10.3390/land14030566