News

Helping Cities Harness the Power of Energy Efficiency
May 15 2014

The World Bank Group is supporting cities as they develop more sustainable municipal systems and services to meet the soaring demand of rapid urbanization. ESMAP's City Energy Efficiency Transformation Initiative is part of this effort, offering grants to 11 cities and programs for energy efficiency initiatives in key sectors such as lighting, buildings, transport, and water. 

"The ESMAP initiative allows us to be strategic about where support is provided,” said Anna Wellenstein, Urban Sector Manager for the World Bank’s Latin America and Caribbean Region. “We are focused on cities and sectors where energy efficiency can drive transformational change, and which can serve as models for others.”

ESMAP’s $4.3 million in grants will support activities in three cities in Brazil (Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte, São Paulo); in Karachi, Pakistan; in Shenzhen, China; in three cities in Ukraine; and two cities in Macedonia. Another grant will go towards the EDGE Green Building Market Transformation Program led by the International Finance Corporation.

Learn more:

Feature Story