Cities boost sustainability by mapping consumption emissions
The inventories will enable the cities 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.
“In our globalised and warming world, cities hold a unique role and responsibility to reduce urban emissions while ensuring that all people and nature can thrive”
C40 reports building data inventories in partnership with city businesses (such as supermarket chains and retailers) is important for cities to measure, plan and act to ensure they become better places to live for all people and sustainable business can thrive.
The leading cities delivering the C40 Good Food Declaration will benefit from better data and indicators to target resources aimed at supporting people to access healthy plant-based food and waste less food.
“In London, we are not only reducing direct emissions from buildings and cars, but looking at ways to reduce the emissions from imports, from food to fashion, energy to electronics and other products Londoners consume,” said Sadiq Khan, mayor of London and C40 chair.
“Building the evidence base is the natural starting point for mayors to plan actions to reduce their city’s consumption footprint, as well as their direct emissions”
“Measuring London’s consumption-based emissions will help us to develop sustainable policies and strategies to reduce London’s wider carbon footprint.”
“In our globalised and warming world, cities hold a unique role and responsibility to reduce urban emissions while ensuring that all people and nature can thrive,” said Mark Watts, executive director of C40 Cities.
Consumption footprint
“Building the evidence base is the natural starting point for mayors to plan actions to reduce their city’s consumption footprint, as well as their direct emissions. NYC and London’s commitment to develop a consumption-based emission inventory, including food, is far more than a data analysis exercise.
“It is the basis to create better health, wellbeing and jobs locally, and work towards a fairer society which doesn’t exploit people or nature. Keeping urban consumption – particularly in the global north – within planetary boundaries.”
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