Carbon footprinting for climate change management in cities

A significant proportion of anthropogenic greenhouse gas generating activities are concentrated in cities. As centers of high consumption, wealth and creativity, cities must play a significant role in tackling climate change. Action to reduce emissions at a local level requires that municipal and local governments have a good understanding of emissions sources and reduction potentials. To achieve this municipal governments require adequate tools and resources to enable effective policy decision making. The carbon footprint is becoming an increasingly recognized tool for the management of climate change. The term carbon footprint originated in the grey literature, it is widely recognized in the public arena. It offers the opportunity to municipal governments to develop models to inform climate change strategy decision making. Enabling municipal authorities to localize the issue climate change and promote the benefits of climate change mitigation at the local level. Existing framework guidance often fails to include all relevant emissions or follow widely varying methodologies, limiting comparability. This paper examines the concept of climate change localization and management. The carbon footprint is explored in the context of a tool for municipal government management of GHG emissions. We conclude by suggesting the carbon footprint become a cost-effective, practical and repeatable metric that can be adopted municipal governments across the globe as a �baseline� indicator.