Cities boost sustainability by mapping consumption emissions

Source: Smart Cities World by SmartCitiesWorld news team

Inventories will enable London and New York City to develop a suite of actions to incentivise more sustainable consumption in collaboration with people and businesses and pioneer new ways to measure emissions.

C40 Cities has entered a partnership with American Express to support the development of consumption-based emissions inventories for London and New York City.

The fresh collaboration was discussed at a meeting between C40 chair and mayor of London Sadiq Khan and Eric Adams, mayor of New York City.

In addition, New York City will sign on to the C40 Good Food Cities Declaration to help increase access to balanced and nutritious food to city residents and halve food waste. NYC joins London and 13 other cities around the world which are delivering on the same pledge.

Sustainable consumption

The consumption-based emissions inventories will enable London and NYC to develop a suite of actions to incentivise more sustainable consumption in collaboration with people and businesses. The project also aims to pioneer new ways for other cities to measure emissions from urban consumption.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has made clear that time has almost run out to limit global heating to around 1.5°C. To achieve the Paris Agreement of limiting global heating to 1.5°C, there is an urgent need to reduce the emissions impact of urban consumption, especially what is eaten and the waste in food systems, and to create more circular economies that do not depend on harmful over-consumption of goods and services.

Many cities already promote sustainable living, engaging businesses and communities, but lack the data to estimate and measure the impact of local policy aimed at reducing a city’s carbon footprint.