2 DEGREES - Understanding the contribution of cities to a carbon neutral society

Abstract

Climate change is understood to be a factual situation to deal with and the world community has agreed with the Paris agreement of 2015 to limiting global warming to 2 C above the pre-industrial state. Cities and urban areas are at the core of anthropogenic climate emissions. So far, however, cities are not generally recognized as major action fields for a climate neutral society. Yet, individual examples of cities with a strong climate neutral agenda prove the overall societal and economic advantage of their actions. This study analyses 15 European cities to understand the influence and potentials, local actions and political activities as well as targets that cities can take and define to mitigate climate change and contribute to the global 2-degree goal. The empirical evaluation of the cities was conducted in 2017, using the science-based targets approach on public buildings as initial pilot. The study identifies critical internal and external success factors for effective climate engagements, particularly from the 1/3 of the cities whose strategies comply with the 2-degrees target. Criteria and levers are derived that help cities transform into low carbon communities. From that, a framework model and operational guidance are developed, binging cities in the position to develop their individual path towards the 2-degree goal. The results of the study are demonstrated by the case of the Swedish community of Vaxjö, showcasing how the early and broad adoption of low carbon policies and actions results in overall economic growth and prosperity as a 'green community'.