Quantifying and reporting greenhouse gas emissions at local level

Unit of Ecologistics and Environmental Risk Management, Faculty of Environmental Engineering, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Wyb. Wyspiańskiego 27 St., 50-370 Wroclaw, Poland

^* Corresponding author: izabela.sowka@pwr.edu.pl

Abstract

Cities as global centers of consumption and production often are a significant and growing source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. At the same time, local authorities are increasingly taking action on climate change by focusing on reducing GHG emissions and efficiency improvement opportunities. To assess and reduce the overall greenhouse gas emission level from an urban area, it is necessary to identify all the activities and processes which generate these emissions. GHG inventory gives an opportunity to get wider knowledge for city’s community about spatial emission processes and emissions contribution of key sources categories at the local scale. Inventory is being used for decision-making purposes and strategic planning in emission reduction policy. The goal of this paper was to clarify the major methodological challenges of GHG monitoring at the urban level. The paper is based on the discussion of different methods and approaches to assessing GHG emissions at the local level. It is presented sectoral GHGs emission trends in selected urban areas and compared CO₂ emission level in different countries and metropolises and variable European cities guidance. The study determines the inventory tools of GHGs emission taking into account the characteristics of main sources at local levels.