[All] Fwd: A new way of measuring carbon emissions (for local governments)

[Robert Milligan]

Derek,

As a professional engineer yourself who ran for regional councillor  
and whose consulting business is concerned primarily with sustainable  
energy as applied to buildings and communities (Mindscape Innovations  
Group Inc. http://mi-group.ca/vision.html). perhaps you could better- 
than-most assist Peter Koffler  (also a professional engineer) with  
his question?

Regards,
Robert


Begin forwarded message:

> From: Peter Kofler <sustainab at hotmail.com>
> Date: February 11, 2012 4:01:57 PM GMT-05:00
> To: <all at gren.ca>, <climate at lists.wpirg.org>
> Subject: [All] A new way of measuring carbon emissions (for local  
> governments)
>
> I realize that, for various reasons, this may not be the best time  
> in recent memory to undertake a comprehensive GHG inventory, but is  
> anyone out there familiar with the appropriate people at local  
> municipal and/or regional government(s) to pass this information on  
> to?
>
>
> http://www.kingcounty.gov/environment/climate/emissions-inventories/2008-report.aspx
>
>
> The so-called "new" way of calculating greenhouse gases involves not  
> only calculating actual GHGs generated locally, but also calculating  
> GHGs embedded in products consumed locally but manufactured/ 
> assembled/transported/distributed from outside of the region while  
> utilized/consumed locally.
>
>
> As Grist's David Roberts writes in a related article:
>
>
> So, for instance, in 2008 King County produced about 12 tons of GHGs  
> per resident. But its consumption-based GHGs came in at 29 tons per  
> resident. More than double! That’s interesting in its own right, but  
> particularly important for informing the county’s climate policies.
>
> Secondly, the report attempts to establish a framework whereby the  
> county’s GHG emissions can be tracked over time, using data sources  
> already available. It shows where political leaders can have the  
> most impact, both direct (for King County, it’s buildings, driving,  
> and waste disposal) and indirect (e.g., education campaigns to  
> reduce meat consumption). This will encourage results-based rather  
> than press-release-based policy making.
>
> ...the task of giving local leaders reliable, shared metrics to  
> track GHGs is vital — the first step upon which all subsequent steps  
> rely. Other cities will want to pay attention.
>
> I imagine the inventory could be done in conjunction with local  
> universities or community colleges interested in climate change/ 
> environmental themes.
>
>
> PK
>
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