The First Common Calculator of Greenhouse
Gas Emissions for Cities
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The United Nations launched the first common
system of calculating the amount of greenhouse gases produced in a given
city and by specific sector or time, allowing cities to compare their
performances and analyse differences. The UN Environment Programme (UNEP), UN Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT) and the World Bank jointly launched the Global Greenhouse Gas Standard for cities at the World Urban Forum in Rio de Janeiro, on 23 March 2010. The Greenhouse Gas Standard calculates emissions on a per capita basis. For example, greenhouse gas emissions are 4.20 tons of carbon dioxide per capita in Barcelona, Spain, 10.6 in Bangkok, Thailand, and 17.8 in Calgary, Canada. The new common standard also takes into account cities’ primary energy sources, climate, means of transportation and urban form. As a result, a high-density city like New York produces 10.4 tons per capita, while another United States city, Denver, emits 21.3 tons per capita. |
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The new common standard also allows cities to compare their emissions over time, across cities and in specific sectors such as energy, transportation or waste.
Currently it is widely recognized at all government levels that cities can be the key catalyst towards the international aim of keeping a global temperature rise to less than 2 degrees Celsius.
UN International Standard for Determining Greenhouse Gas Emissions for Cities (PDF)
Source: UN News Centre