Deep Decarbonization in Cities: GHG Emissions Measurement, Monitoring, and Reporting

As the urgency for action against climate change increases, local governments around the world are committing to reducing greenhouse gas emissions through deep decarbonization targets. Cities are the largest place-based sources of GHG emissions and therefore have great potential to reduce emissions on a global scale. To reach net-zero by 2050, transformative change is not only needed to create deep decarbonization pathways, but also to disrupt the current path dependency on carbon that most cities face today.
This qualitative study will examine net-zero pathways, collaborative governance structure, GHG emission measurement, monitoring, and reporting practices within climate action plans. The study will also offer a baseline understanding of current practices in Canadian cities and provide an accessible dataset for future studies to access.
Through a partnership with ICLEI Canada, the student interns will gain access to relevant internal research data and resources needed for the study, while the partner organization expects that the academic research will be useful to their existing and ongoing projects and improving the PCP program. The purpose of this project is to
inform the implementation of deep decarbonization plans for cities.

Faculty Supervisor:

Amelia Clarke

Student:

Partner:

ICLEI Local Governments for Sustainability

Discipline:

Sociology

Sector:

Professional, scientific and technical services; Public administration

University:

University of Waterloo

Program: