It's hard to believe that in the decades since the impact of greenhouse gas emissions were first recognized, no standard for measuring and calculating emissions has been developed. The introduction of the Community Protocol intends to change that.
Last week, "the sustainability network ICLEI USA released the U.S. Community Protocol for Accounting and Reporting of Greenhouse Gas Emissions (thankfully shortened to the Community Protocol), the first-ever national standard detailing how to inventory community-associated greenhouse gas emissions," reports Emma Fried-Cassorla.
"Before," says Fried-Cassorla, "communities could reach out to ICLEI
for guidance on how to measure and calculate emissions, or could try to
extrapolate from corporate or federal reporting. This resulted in an ad
hoc cobbling together of best practices, which led to inconsistent and
incomparable data. Now, a quick download and some video tutorials will
allow a city or community to easily create a standardized greenhouse gas
inventory."
Read the full story: First-Time National Standard to Help Cities Keep Tabs on Greenhouse Gas Emissions
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The organization claims the standards used by cities are consistent and capture the most policy-relevant emissions.
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NYC breaks ground on anti-flooding infrastructure project
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FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
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City of Rosemead
Rutgers University, Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
One Hundred Miles
University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS)
Hunter College, City University of New York (CUNY)
The Architects Foundation
City of Cambridge
Montrose County
The Pocatello Development Authority