How Cities Undercount Greenhouse Gas Emissions

By the usual measures, wealthy "consumer cities" have largely put a check on their carbon emissions. But that doesn't account for the emissions that their consumption habits fuel in other places.

1 minute read

March 24, 2018, 11:00 AM PDT

By Philip Rojc @PhilipRojc


Gas

Paul Latham / Shutterstock

Citing the hefty figure of 60 percent, Stephen Leahy writes that "The world's cities emit 70 percent of the world’s carbon dioxide—and that's likely higher when consumption emissions are included."

The finding comes from a report released at the IPCC Cities and Climate Change Science Conference. The "vitality" of wealthy cities, the report says, gives rise to significant greenhouse gas emissions outside their boundaries. Leahy writes, "when the emissions associated with their consumption of goods and services are included, these cities' emissions have grown substantially and are among the highest in the world on a per person basis, the report says."

Measuring emissions only by what originates within city limits paints a rosy picture of "consumer cities" and may unfairly vilify the places that produce those goods. As Cleveland sustainability chief Matt Gray argued to The National Geographic, "Resource consumption was not a factor in last year's U.S. Cities Sustainable Development Goals Index, which put Cleveland at the bottom. Yet the fact that Cleveland is widely considered a national leader in local food production wasn't a factor in the index [...]"

Tuesday, March 6, 2018 in National Geographic

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 9, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Map of Haussmann's redesign of Paris in the 1850s through 1870s under Napoleon III.

In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking

Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?

June 30, 2025 - Tom Sanchez

View of dense apartment buildings on Seattle waterfront with high-rise buildings in background.

King County Supportive Housing Program Offers Hope for Unhoused Residents

The county is taking a ‘Housing First’ approach that prioritizes getting people into housing, then offering wraparound supportive services.

July 11 - Real Change

Aerial view of suburban housing near Las Vegas, Nevada.

Researchers Use AI to Get Clearer Picture of US Housing

Analysts are using artificial intelligence to supercharge their research by allowing them to comb through data faster. Though these AI tools can be error prone, they save time and housing researchers are optimistic about the future.

July 11 - Shelterforce Magazine

Green bike share bikes parked in a row on a commercial street with outdoor dining and greenery.

Making Shared Micromobility More Inclusive

Cities and shared mobility system operators can do more to include people with disabilities in planning and operations, per a new report.

July 11 - Cities Today