International Partners Release Pilot Global Protocol for Community-Scale Greenhouse Gas Emissions
2012/05/15

C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group and ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability, together with international partners launched a pilot version of the Global Protocol for Community-scale Greenhouse Gas Emissions (also called the “community protocol”) at a side event during the UNFCCC Bonn Climate Conference.

This landmark effort represents a significant step forward in harmonizing emission measurements and reporting processes for cities of all sizes and geographies: the community protocol will be piloted in selected cities to establish a single minimum global standard for community-scale greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions measurements. A transparent, consistent and common approach provides cities with a much-needed tool for effective climate action planning and financing.

Developed in close collaboration with the World Resources Institute (WRI), and the Joint Work Programme of the World Bank Group, UN-HABITAT and UNEP, the community protocol will be introduced at an official side event during the UNFCCC climate meetings in Bonn, Germany.

“Measurement and reporting underpins the local action driving C40 Cities leadership in addressing global climate change,” says Jay Carson, C40 Executive Director. “As such, the community protocol represents the interests, needs and challenges of C40 Cities.”

“The implementation of the Protocol will strengthen efforts for measurable, reportable, verifiable local climate action. It will enhance access of local governments to global climate funds and help cities to raise the level of ambition of national governments to mitigate climate change.” says Konrad Otto-Zimmermann, Secretary General of ICLEI. “The Protocol complements and advances more than two decades of global efforts on local climate action, in which ICLEI has been pioneering.”