US cities to go greener

2008-08-11 14:40

Washington - Twenty-one US cities, including New York and New Orleans, said they would measure their greenhouse gases emissions, in a joint effort to seek ways to halt and reverse global warming.

The cities, which made their announcement on Sunday, will resort to a measuring system for CO2 and other greenhouse gases already in used by about 1nbsp;300 companies worldwide who voluntarily disclose their emissions.

"Over 70% of total global emissions are generated from cities, and if you don't measure these emissions, you cannot manage them," Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) CEO Paul Dickinson said.

Based in London and founded in 2000, the CDP represents some 385 global institutional investors, with a combined asset base of more than 57 trillion dollars.

In the US cities project, the CDP teams up with ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability, a 450-member US group of local governments seeking deep reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and tangible improvements in local sustainability.

Each of the 21 participating cities in the CDP-ICLEI partnership will collect carbon emission data within their jurisdictions' operations, including fire department, ambulance and police services, municipal buildings, waste transport and other services.

'Healthier planet'

They will follow CDP systems to assess and disclose climate change-related risks and opportunities relating to the whole city, comparing their results with other cities to get a complete picture of their greenhouse gas emissions.

"This partnership between the world's major corporations and, increasingly, its cities, highlights the importance of the co-operative action needed to successfully counter climate change," New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg said in a statement.

"Working together, and with the best data, we can manage this problem, and leave our children and grandchildren a healthier and more sustainable planet," he added.

In the CDP Cities program, cities will submit their responses to CDP by October 31 2008. All responses will be announced and published in the first ever CDP Cities Report and ICLEI Local Action Network Report in January 2009 respectively.

Dickenson said other major US cities such as Los Angeles were considering joining the CDP program, adding that he hoped European cities like Paris would eventually come on board.

Credibility in question

"This is a vital step for city councils who wish to gain a better understanding of their own impact and by improving their understanding of risks and opportunities associated with climate change, best prepare their cities for a carbon constrained world," he said.

The voluntary nature of the CDP project, however, has its limitations.

More than 20% of the world's top 500 companies refuse to disclose their CO2 emissions, according to environmental groups.

And CDP credibility in itself is in question since data supplied by participating companies are not submitted to verification by independent organisations.

- AFP