Cities account for roughly two-thirds of energy-related greenhouse gas emissions due to their concentration of population and economic intensity. In order to provide a diagnosis of urban emissions at scales relevant to urban decision making and in order to enable identification of low-carbon or carbon mitigation opportunities, cities need to understand their emitting landscape due to both natural and human activities. Given the widely varying existing knowledge and needs, IG3IS employs a tiered approach to help address those needs ranging from basic to most detailed emission information. This information must be is generated in a timely manner by scientifically accurate methods, reflects space and time scales relevant to urban decision making, and if possible, includes attributions that are consistent with information categories cities often manage such as economic (sub-) sector and fuel types.
Furthermore, IG3IS goals include having short feedback loops to help cities demonstrate the positive impact of mitigation activities quickly (faster than the current 1-2 year delay in producing national inventories). This offers the opportunity for “coursecorrecting” action in a timely manner. The integrated greenhouse gas framework aims to be relatable to socioeconomic data at commensurate space and time scales to highlight potential co-benefits and trade-offs such as air quality reductions, traffic management, and environmental justice.
Explore cities that are already taking advantage of IG3IS resources and learn how it has helped in their planning. These cities are marked by blue pins on the map on the homepage.
Interested in proposing a project? Find attached the endorsement criteria for your consultation and submitting a proposal.