Energy transitions are underway everywhere simultaneously, or so one wants to think. They are in fact resisted vigorously, reshaped surreptitiously, and stripped of meaning altogether upon closer examination in unfortunately many circumstances. The urgent need for rapid action imbues large powerful actors with deep pockets with greater ability to wrest control of processes labelled energy transitions, while more inclusive, democratic, locally situated approaches cause barely an occasional flutter if measured in capital investments and gigawatt hours of clean energy production and fossil fuel displacement.

We live on an urban planet, one that will become even more urban in coming decades. The polycrisis of biodiversity loss and climate change is interacting dynamically with urbanization creating a locus of impact both by, and on, cities and urbanized regions.