Abstract
Local authorities and cities are at the forefront of driving the energy transition, which plays a crucial role in mitigating the effects of climate change. The greenhouse gas emissions in cities, due to energy consumption, are placed into two categories: direct emissions generated from the combustion of fossil fuels mainly in buildings and transport sectors, and indirect emissions from grid-supplied energy, such as electricity and district heating and/or cooling. While there is extensive literature focused on direct greenhouse gas emissions accounting in cities’ inventories, research has focused to a lesser extent on allocation methods of indirect emissions from grid-supplied energy. The present paper provides an updated definition for the concept of local energy generation within the Covenant of Mayors initiative and proposes a new methodology for indirect emission accounting in cities’ greenhouse gas emission inventories. In addition, a broader policy framework in which local action is taken is discussed based on the European Union energy and climate policies, and over 80 exemplary Covenant of Mayors good practices are identified across the technology areas of local energy generation and four modes of urban climate governance. The contributions of the paper demonstrate that local authorities have the capacity to support and mobilize action for local energy generation investments through the multiple modes of urban climate governance to update and strengthen climate action
Highlights
An increasing number of cities and local governments adhere to transnational initiatives that are active on climate change mitigation
The CoM at the time of writing the paper is part of the Global Covenant of Mayors initiative, while this paper addresses the experience gathered in the CoM in Europe between 2008 and 2018
In order to calculate the indirect CO2 emissions that are to be attributed to the local consumption of electricity, Joint Research Centre (JRC) developed a specific methodology as described in this paper by estimating the local emission factor for electricity (EFE), taking into account both location- and market-based methods, and an efficiency method for emission allocations in the case of combined heat and power (CHP)
Summary
An increasing number of cities and local governments adhere to transnational initiatives that are active on climate change mitigation. Cities that adhere to transnational networks on climate change by making emission inventories and climate action plans publicly available, in the absence of obligation, render themselves accountable both globally as well as locally [1] Their performance and identity are increasingly scrutinized in terms of global impact and exploited in the scientific literature [2]. Over 80 exemplary good practices are overviewed across the technology areas of local energy generation ranging from photovoltaics, solar thermal, wind energy, hydroelectric power, bioenergy, geothermal energy, combined heat and power (CHP), district heating and/or cooling (DH/C) and smart grids, as well as energy generation from waste and wastewater based on the CoM Signatories’ good practices These good practices are associated with the urban climate governance options that have been put into action by the CoM signatories. The paper addresses multiple gaps in the literature by updating the approach for indirect emissions accounting and the linkage of good practices in the CoM Signatories’ good practices database to the four modes of urban climate governance
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
