In September 2022, a select group of experts in accounting, finance, and sustainability convened at the United Nations General Assembly Science Summit to present on the critical themes of climate data and finance. Representing Belgium, Norway, Nigeria, Uganda, Mauritius, Kenya, Zambia, Switzerland, France, and the United Kingdom, these experts brought diverse national perspectives to the discussion. This high‑level dialogue brought together practitioners and thought leaders committed to identifying actionable pathways for accelerating sustainable development, particularly in regions most vulnerable to climate and energy inequalities. The outcomes of this gathering led to the creation of several working groups, each tasked with advancing the insights and priorities identified at the conference.

At the conference discussions began with an exploration of how the European Union was addressing sustainability within cities, with a clear and growing emphasis on Positive Energy Districts (PEDs). European delegates shared emerging frameworks, policy directions, and early lessons from cities already experimenting with PED concepts. These insights offered a structured lens through which to understand the ambition and complexity of building districts that produce more energy than they consume.

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Only after grounding ourselves in the European experience did, we turn to the implications for Africa. This shift in perspective — from established EU pathways to the diverse socio‑economic and infrastructural realities of African cities — sparked the core question that ultimately shaped this book: How can we integrate renewable energy, community participation and inclusion, and local economic development within a defined spatial area?

One of the key outcomes of the summit was the formation of dedicated working groups tasked with translating these discussions into practical frameworks and solutions. Among these, the City Working Group was established to focus specifically on sustainability transitions at the urban scale, with particular attention to the development of PEDs in African contexts. Recognizing the rapid pace of urbanization across the continent, the group set out to explore how PEDs—already gaining traction in Europe—could be adapted to address Africa’s unique socio‑economic conditions. This included not only technical and financial feasibility but also governance, community participation, and long‑term resilience.

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This book emerges directly from that mandate. It tackles a central and pressing question: Can Positive Energy Districts be designed and implemented in ways that are genuinely inclusive and capable of addressing energy poverty? This question is critical not only for Africa, where access to affordable and reliable energy remains a major challenge, but also for the European Union, where ensuring a just and equitable energy transition is an increasingly urgent policy priority.

By bridging insights from both regions, this work argues that PEDs must go beyond technological innovation and carbon reduction. They must be intentionally designed as instruments of social inclusion—capable of expanding energy access, reducing inequality, and delivering tangible benefits to underserved communities. In doing so, the book positions PEDs not merely as a sustainability solution, but as a transformative model for equitable urban development in a climate‑constrained world.

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