Resource information
According to the United Nations
population fund, the world is undergoing the largest wave of
urban growth in history, with more people now living in
cities than in rural areas. Cities are also responsible for
a high proportion of global carbon emissions, which are the
main driver of anthropogenic climate change. By taking the
lead on low carbon development, cities have the opportunity
to engage in an important dialogue about sustainable
development, directly address local issues, and contribute
to the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Low
carbon development strategies allow cities to position
themselves as major players in climate change mitigation, as
well as set an example for the development of national
emission reduction policies. The systematic approach offered
by a low carbon city development program (LCCDP) enables a
city to overcome the barriers faced in single project
implementation and pursue an integrated low carbon pathway.
It provides a common framework to identify, implement, and
measure low carbon interventions that will not only
contribute to lower emissions, but will also address urban
development needs. The LCCDP guidebook helps orient cities
to design and implement an LCCDP that complies with the
LCCDP assessment protocol, which is a new protocol based on
existing, internationally recognized standards for systems
design, and GHG accounting. The LCCDP assessment protocol
consists of a set of standardized requirements developed to
ensure that LCCDPs will achieve their targets and objectives
when implemented. Thus the guidebook aims to assist the
reader through the process of designing and implementing an LCCDP.
