Greenhouse gas emission accounting at urban level: A case study of the city of Wroclaw (Poland)

Abstract

The paper analyses the building process of a GHG emissions inventory, which would likely enable more strongly cities to manage their efforts and set realistic targets for emission reduction. The work includes the determination of GHG emission estimation tools and approaches used for estimation of key sources of these emissions at the local level. The actual task is the determination of major GHG emitting sectors including the key characteristics of these emissions sources at the local level, establishing targets for emissions reductions at Wroclaw urban area, Poland. The sectoral GHG emission trends in the selected urban area including a comparison of carbon dioxide (CO2) emission level with national inventory data are presented. The total GHG emissions from Wroclaw municipality in 2013 were 7.2 percent lower than those in 1990. Energy consumption is a major contributor of emissions responsible for 63% of citywide CO2 through the consumption of electricity and district and individual heating using coal and natural gas energy sources. The proposed data structure is connected in an informative Sankey diagram for all anthropogenic GHG emissions occurred in Wroclaw municipality in 2013. In order to determine the City progress towards urban carbon neutrality, reducing emissions 25% by 2020 and 80% by 2050, as well as the future risks and impacts of GHG emissions on climate change the ‘business as usual’ final energy consumption and emission scenarios are provided.