The United Nations Studies Urban Emissions Monitoring

This Friday, scientists from the Megacities Carbon Project at JPL and the Hestia Project at ASU will present at the ongoing UN Climate Conference in Lima. Both efforts use an array of measurement techniques to hone in on carbon emissions from cities: how much, when, and from which sources. Their spot at the UN conference demonstrates that organization's increased focus on what individual cities are doing to rein in carbon emissions. 

While cities are often epicenters for carbon emissions, many have also emerged as leaders in sustainable policy implementation. This is despite national gridlock on environmental issues. The article by Rebecca Tuhus-Dubrow explains how the Hestia Project and the Megacities Carbon Project have identified city-specific areas where emissions could be curtailed. A major goal is to determine where municipal sustainability investments should be made for greatest overall effect. 

Beyond action on the city level, the researchers want to "establish a global network of cities that can develop the methodology, share data and best practices, and ultimately form a framework for slashing emissions worldwide." A unified system advising cities on emissions practices faces some significant challenges, but the researchers believe such a network might be established within a decade.