Climate-Resilient Urban Energy: Integrating Governance, Finance, Digital Twins, Circular Water–Energy, and Nature-Based Solution
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47604/ijes.3506Keywords:
Urban Energy Planning, Circular Water–Energy Nexus, Digital Twin, Nature-Based Solutions, Governance, Equity, Just TransitionAbstract
Purpose: Show how governance, finance, digital twin (DT)/AI analytics, circular water–energy, nature-based solutions (NbS), and equity can jointly drive low‑carbon, resilient, just urban energy transitions in emerging regions.
Methodology: PRISMA review (2014–Q1 2024) screened 500, retained 80 studies/policy records. Dual coding (kappa >0.78). Meta‑ranges kept metrics with ≥3 consistent studies. Thematic triangulation mapped enablers, barriers, and gaps across Nigeria, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Southeast Asia to generate contextual performance and sequencing insights.
Findings: Efficiency, combined with distributed renewables and demand response, cuts emissions by 18–42%. DT/predictive analytics reduce district energy intensity by 5–12% and O&M by 10–25%. Circular measures lower utility energy intensity 8–22% and offset 20–40% potable demand. NbS cut peak runoff 20–55%, inundation depth 10–25%, heat island 0.5–2.5°C. Equity actions reduced the energy burden by 5–18% and prioritized flood exposure by 20–40%. Enablers: polycentric coordination, interoperable data, blended finance, standardized metrics, ethical AI, just transition framing.
Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: Meta-range synthesis clarifies performance bands linking technical gains with resilience and equity outcomes. Regional DT/AI maturity and circular leverage points inform sequencing in Nigeria, Sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia, underscoring the need for synchronized data governance and integration. Adopt interoperable data and AI charters; expand blended, performance‑linked finance tied to resilience and equity KPIs; incentivize leak analytics, modular digestion, reclaimed cooling; mandate equity and anti‑displacement audits; build DT validation capacity; apply equity‑adjusted valuation.
Downloads
References
Acuto, M., Parnell, S., & Seto, K. C. (2018). Building a global urban science. Nature Sustainability, 1(1), 2–4.
Adelekan, I. (2021). Flood risk and climate resilience in Lagos, Nigeria. Climate and Development, 13 (10), 879–891.
Adelekan, I., & Asiyanbi, A. (2016). Flood risk perception in flood-affected communities in Lagos. Natural Hazards, 80 (1), 445–469.
Ahlborg, H., & Nightingale, A. J. (2018). Theorizing power in energy transitions. Energy Research & Social Science, 38,1. Acuto, M., Parnell, S., & Seto, K. C. (2018). Building a global urban science. Nature Sustainability, 1 (1), 2–4.
Ajibade, I. (2019). Planned retreat in Lagos: Environmental justice and uneven adaptation futures. Global Environmental Change, 57, 101939.
Amenta, L., & van Timmeren, A. (2018). Beyond waste: Circular city planning. Sustainability, 10 (12), 4394
Andonova, L. (2022). The governance of city climate networks. Global Environmental Politics, 22 (1), 60–82.
Aronson, M. F. J., et al. (2022). Urban biodiversity and nature-based solutions in African cities. Sustainability, 14 (5), 2891.
Attard, M., et al. (2022). Open data for sustainable urban mobility governance. Sustainable Cities and Society, 80,103795.
Bai, X., et al. (2018). Six research priorities for cities and climate change. Nature Climate Change, 8, 129–132.
Berrang-Ford, L., et al. (2021). A systematic global stocktake of evidence on human adaptation. *Nature Climate Change, 11, 999–1006.
Bouzarovski, S., Thomson, H., & Cornelis, M. (2023). Energy poverty and justice in the urban transition. Energy Research & Social Science, 96 102949.
Broto, V. C., & Bulkeley, H. (2014). Urban experiments as climate governance. Global Environmental Change, 26, 136–144.
Carmin, J., et al. (2015). Urban climate adaptation and governance. Climatic Change, 129,1–2.
Castán Broto, V. (2020). Urban energy landscapes. Cambridge University Press.
Chatzivasileiadi, A., et al. (2015). Renewable energy and smart energy systems in smart cities. Sustainable Cities and Society, 14, 104–115.
Chan, F., et al. (2022). Coastal adaptation pathways in Southeast Asia. Climate Risk Management, 36, 100443.
Corbitt, R., et al. (2022). Energy recovery in wastewater treatment. Journal of Cleaner Production, 339,130512.
Creutzig, F., et al. (2019). Demand-side solutions to climate change mitigation. Nature Climate Change, 9, 796–802.
De Coninck, H., & Benson, S. M. (2014). Carbon dioxide capture and storage: Update. Annual Review of Environment and Resources, 39, 243–270.
De Coninck, H., et al. (2018). Strengthening and implementing the global response to the threat of climate change. Energy Research & Social Science, 46, 316–329.
Demuzere, M., et al. (2019). Mitigating and adapting to climate change: Multi-functional and multi-scale assessment of green infrastructure. Landscape and Urban Planning, 182,12–27.
Deng, Y., et al. (2021). Machine learning for urban flood prediction. Water Resources Research, 57 (4), e2020WR029176.
Flammer, C. (2021). Corporate green bonds and environmental performance. Journal of Financial Economics, 142 (2), 499–516.
Frantzeskaki, N. (2019). Urban sustainability transitions with nature-based solutions. Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability, 39, 1–8.
Fuller, A., et al. (2020). Digital twin: Enabling technologies. IEEE Access, 8, 108952–108971.
Fuso Nerini, F., et al. (2018). Mapping synergies between energy and the Sustainable Development Goals. Nature Energy, 3, 10–15.
Garcia, D. J., & You, F. (2018). The water-energy-food nexus in urban sustainability. Applied Energy, 228, 975–989.
Giezen, M., et al. (2018). Adapting the adaptive planning approach. Environmental Science & Policy, 83,125–131.
Gouldson, A., et al. (2016). The economics of low carbon cities. Energy Policy, 91, 447–457.
Heikkilä, M., et al. (2022). Ethical governance of AI in smart cities. AI & Society, 3 1461–1475.
Hsu, A., et al. (2020). Performance determinants of subnational climate action. Nature Communications, 11, 5405.
Hurlbert, M., & Rayner, S. (2018). Adaptive governance of energy systems transitions. Energy Research & Social Science, 37,254–259.
IBM & Dublin City Council. (2016). Flood alert digital twin pilot report.
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. (2022a). AR6 WGII: Impacts, adaptation, and vulnerability.
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. (2022b). AR6 WGIII: Mitigation of climate change.
International Energy Agency. (2022). Water-energy nexus in urban infrastructure.
Jenkins, K., McCauley, D., Heffron, R., Stephan, H., & Rehner, R. (2021). Energy justice: A policy review. Energy Policy, 156, 112410.
Kabisch, N., et al. (2017). Nature-based solutions for urban climate resilience. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 21, 1–19.
Ketzler, B., et al. (2020). Digital twins in urban water management. Water, 12 (11), 3183.
Lim, C., et al. (2022). Virtual Singapore: A federated digital twin. Computers, Environment and Urban Systems, 95, 101836.
Lund, H., et al. (2015). Smart energy systems for coherent 100% renewable energy and transport solutions. Applied Energy, 145 139–154.
Lund, H., et al. (2017). Smart energy Europe: The technical and economic impact. Energy, 132, 845–859.
Markolf, S. A., et al. (2018). Interdependent infrastructure vulnerabilities. Earth’s Future, 6 (8), 1359–1379.
Mathiesen, B. V., et al. (2015). Smart energy systems for coherent 100% renewable solutions. Applied Energy, 145, 139–154.
McCollum, D. L., et al. (2018). Interaction of SDGs and energy systems. Nature Energy, 3,10–15.
McKenna, R., & Parag, Y. (2019). Distributed energy prosumers. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 113,109257.
Meijer, A., & Bolívar, M. P. R. (2016). Governing the smart city. Government Information Quarterly, 33 (2), 372–382.
Mohammadi, N., & Taylor, J. (2021). Smart city digital twins. Journal of Management in Engineering, 37 (2), 04020102.
Mueller, N., et al. (2020). Urban green space and mobility in superblocks. Environment International, 135,105337.
Ng, M., & Acker, A. (2023). Gender-responsive transit planning. Transport Policy, 128, 34–45.
Ogunmodede, A., et al. (2023). Data governance and smart city development in Nigeria. Cities, 139,104321.
Olazabal, M., et al. (2019). A cross-scale worldwide analysis of coastal adaptation planning. Cities, 95,102438.
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. (2023). Scaling up finance for nature-based solutions.
Pasimeni, M. R., et al. (2019). Indicators for urban green infrastructure planning. Ecological Indicators, 96, 146–157.
Pelling, M., et al. (2024). Urban adaptation governance in African cities. Climate and Development, 16 (1), 12–24.
Ramaswami, A., et al. (2016). Urban systems integration for environmental sustainability. Environmental Science & Technology, 50 (14), 7725–7736.
Ratanavilasut, R., & Tan, H. (2022). Disability-inclusive urban transport in Southeast Asia.Sustainable Cities and Society, 84,104011.
Raymond, C. M., et al. (2017). A framework for assessing and implementing nature-based solutions. Ecosystem Services, 29, 229–247.
Reardon, L., & Marsden, G. (2019). Smart mobility: Contemporary policy approaches. Transportation Research Part A, 131,290–302.
Ribeiro, P., & de Sousa, L. (2021). Integrated urban climate planning. Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, 64 (14), 2505–2526.
Ribeiro, P. J. G., & Pena Jardim Gonçalves, L. A. (2019). Urban resilience: A conceptual framework. Sustainable Cities and Society, 47, 101528.
Rogelj, J., et al. (2018). Mitigation pathways compatible with 1.5°C. Nature Climate Change, 8, 325–332.
Samuelson, R., et al. (2021). Comparative analysis of urban heat mitigation strategies. Sustainable Cities and Society, 74, 103188.
Seto, K. C., et al. (2021). Urban land teleconnections and emissions. Nature Reviews Earth & Environment, 2, 699–715.
Sharifi, A. (2021). Urban resilience assessment: A systematic review update. Sustainable Cities and Society, 64,102516.
Sharifi, A. (2022). Resilience-oriented urban form: A critical review. *Sustainable Cities and Society, 76,103442.
Sharifi, A., & Yamagata, Y. (2016). Principles and criteria for assessing urban resilience. Sustainable Cities and Society, 27, 222–232.
Sovacool, B. K., & Griffiths, S. (2020). The cultural dynamics of energy. Energy Policy, 141,111468.
Sovacool, B. K., Hook, A., Martiskainen, M., & Baker, L. (2019). Decarbonization and its discontents: Energy justice implications. Nature Energy, 4, 1008–1016.
Sovacool, B. K., et al. (2017). Vulnerability in the energy system. Energy Policy, 109,10–26.
Sovacool, B. K., et al. (2020). Energy justice in transitions. Applied Energy, 282, 116273.
Steffen, W., et al. (2015). Planetary boundaries: Guiding human development. Science, 347 (6223), 1259855.
Turnheim, B., et al. (2015). Evaluating sustainability transitions policy mixes. Research Policy, 44 (3), 522–540.
Uwizeyimana, D., et al. (2023). Low-emission mobility in Kigali. Sustainable Cities and Society, 90, 104247.
Ürge-Vorsatz, D., et al. (2018). Lock-in and opportunities for decarbonizing buildings. Energy Research & Social Science, 40, 89–101.
van den Berg, H., et al. (2021). Sponge infrastructure performance in Rotterdam. Water Science & Technology, 84 (7), 1680–1693.
Vieira, J., et al. (2018). Green infrastructure and urban planning: A review. Science of the Total Environment, 651, 1083–1093.
Wainstein, M. E., & Bumpus, A. (2016). Finance innovation and sociotechnical transitions. Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions, 21, 26–40.
Walker, G., et al. (2014). Community energy systems and social sustainability. People, Place and Policy, 8 (3), 36–50.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Kingsley Erhioghenekowhodo Erifeta
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) 4.0 License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgment of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
