25 cities produce 52% of the world’s emissions

Te Whanganui-a-Tara - Despite covering just two percent of the Earth’s surface, cities are major greenhouse gas emission contributors.

Despite covering just two percent of the planet’s surface, cities are major greenhouse gas emission contributors.

A total of 25 mega cities produces 52 percent of urban greenhouse gas emissions, according to a new study.

Although Asian cities emit the most greenhouse gasses, cities in Europe, Australia, and the US had significantly higher per capita emissions.

Of the 167 cities studied, 113 have set varying types of GHG emission reduction targets but just 40 have set carbon neutrality goals.

New research published by Frontiers has measured greenhouse gas emissions of 167 globally distributed cities.

The study shows that just 25 cities generate 52 percent of the greenhouse gas emissions from the studied cities.

Asian cities emit the most greenhouse gasses (GHG), and most cities of developed countries had significantly higher per capita GHG emissions than those of developing countries.

In 2015, 170 countries worldwide adopted the Paris Agreement, with the goal limiting the average global temperature increase to 1.5°C. Following the agreement, many countries and cities proposed targets for greenhouse gas mitigation.

However, without drastic and strict actions to mitigate the climate crisis, the planet is still heading for a temperature increase of more than 3°C by the end of the 21st century.

A new study published in the journal Frontiers in Sustainable Cities presents the first global balance sheet of greenhouse gasses (GHGs) emitted by major cities around the world.

The aim was to research and monitor the effectiveness of historical GHG reduction policies implemented by 167 globally distributed cities that are at different developmental stages.

Current urban GHG mitigation targets are not sufficient to achieve global climate change targets by the end of this century.

Cities are reported to be responsible for more than 70 percent of greenhouse gas emissions and they share a big responsibility for the decarbonisation of the global economy.

For 30 cities, there was a clear emission decrease between 2012 and 2016. The top four cities with the largest per capita reduction were Oslo, Houston, Seattle, and Bogotá.

The top four cities with the largest per capita emissions increase were Rio de Janeiro, Curitiba, Johannesburg, and Venice.

Of the 167 cities, 113 have set varying types of greenhouse gas emission reduction targets, while 40 have set carbon neutrality goals.

The study echoes many other reports and research that the world is a long way off achieving the goals set by the Paris Agreement.