Executive Summary


Cities are at the forefront of our global response to climate change. Cities consume approximately 60–80% of the world’s energy production.2


Experts


differ in their analysis of the overall contribution of cities to greenhouse gas emissions but estimates show urban areas could be responsible for up to 80% of total emissions.3


It is


not unusual for the largest cities to produce emissions that exceed those of medium-sized countries.


Cities are also likely to be extremely vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. The high population density and fixed nature of urban infrastructure makes cities susceptible to the negative impacts of extreme weather events and rising global sea levels. Cities are also prone to the slower- acting, detrimental effects of climate change, including damage to agriculture, fishing, and tourism. In addition, the inhabitants of some cities have an increased likelihood of climate change-related health issues, such as heat exhaustion and increased incidence of tropical disease provoked by rising temperatures.


At the same time, cities are well- placed to act quickly and effectively to combat climate change and its effects. According to the World Bank, “Cities have the unique ability to respond to a global issue like climate change at a local, more visceral level, and cities usually offer more immediate and effective communication between the public and decision makers. Co- benefits of climate change mitigation and adaptation schemes are largest in cities”.4


Local governments can act as leaders of change: creating a sense of


3


urgency which can be focused for rapid and wide-spread action, proactively managing climate change related risks of climate change, meeting carbon targets, and capitalizing on low carbon economy benefits.


There is gathering motivation and intent to reduce emissions, evident in the emergence of programs that support cities to drive forward sustainability strategies, such as the US Mayor’s Climate Protection Agreement and the EU’s Covenant of Mayors (more than 1,500 local governments are currently involved with this program5


). However,


city officials often lack the data required to understand both their key sources of emissions and the impact of their low-carbon initiatives. Identifying the major risks and opportunities of climate change can also be challenging for many cities.


A common disclosure platform can provide the tool for such data collection. This data can aid cities, as well as inform critical stakeholders such as residents and the businesses located within a city. This paper outlines the case for city disclosure and demonstrates how climate change reporting can become an essential component to enable cities to:


• Drive economic competitiveness through the realization of operational efficiencies and the attraction of investment and innovation;


• Improve climate change risk management;


• Demonstrate the value of cities’ sustainability strategies to society.


“The City of New York joins the world’s leading corporations in providing a complete, accurate accounting of its carbon emissions, the strategies it is employing to mitigate those emissions, and the results of its efforts through the Carbon Disclosure Project. This partnership between the world’s major corporations and, increasingly, its cities, highlights the importance of the cooperative action needed to successfully counter climate change.”


Michael Bloomberg, Mayor, New York, New York CDP Cities Pilot 2008


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