[12.08.2008] Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) and ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability are joining forces with some of the United States’ largest cities to help them voluntarily report their greenhouse gas emissions and other climate change-relevant data.

Under the new CDP Cities program, at least 30 urban centers, including New York, Las Vegas, Denver, West Palm Beach, St. Paul and New Orleans, will use ICLEI’s Local Government Operations Protocol and software tools to assess their greenhouse gas emissions profile and then will disclose this inventory data to the CDP online reporting. Twenty-one cities were announced on Sunday, 10th of August, with at least nine others expected to take part in the pilot project.

Each city will assemble comparable carbon emission data within their jurisdiction’s operations-- for instance, fire department, ambulance and police services, municipal buildings, waste, transport and other services the cities provide or activities over which they exercise budgetary control.

They will follow CDP systems to assess and disclose climate change-related risks and opportunities relating to the whole city. Cities will use the Local Government OperationsProtocol, coauthored by ICLEI and the California Climate Action Registry, with input from expert stakeholders across the United States, which details the policy framework, calculation methodologies, and reporting guidance for quantifying GHG emissions from local government operations.

Paul Dickinson, CEO of CDP commented: ‘Over 70% of total global emissions are generated from cities and if you don’t measure these emissions, you cannot manage them.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.’

First 21 Members Cities

Albany, NY; Albuquerque, NM; Anchorage, AK; Arlington, VA; Burlington, VT; Denver, CO;Dubuque, IA; Edina, MN; Fairfield, IA; Haverford, PA; Las Vegas, NV; New Orleans, LA; NewYork, NY; North Little Rock, AR; Pacific Grove, CA; Park City, UT; Portland, OR; RohnertPark, CA; Saint Paul, MN; Washougal, WA; and West Palm Beach, FL.

Source: CDP

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