"You have to measure it to manage it to measure it."
That was the message declared loudly by Michael Bloomberg, Mayor of New York City, to attendees at the C40 Cities Summit in Sao Paulo last June. Following 2010, a year that saw the biggest estimated carbon dioxide emissions jump ever, many other voices around the globe also proclaimed this message as leaders and citizens became increasingly concerned about our society's inability to address environmentally responsible growth and infrastructure management. Cities and organizations are seeing the impacts of climate change, but without a global source for reliable data on carbon emissions, the leading human-caused contributor to climate change, it is difficult, if not impossible, to measure the effects of efforts to reduce carbon emissions.
The Carbon Disclosure Project has been showing the way by demonstrating the power of measuring carbon emissions information as a measure of risk to corporations for over 10 years. CDP currently receives reported carbon emissions from 3700+ corporations around the globe that collectively hold $71 trillion in assets.
Last year, in partnership with Autodesk and others, CDP launched a program for monitoring carbon emissions reported by cities. We're hoping to see the Cities program achieve the same scale of success that has been achieved by the investor program. (Note that the 2012 information request is open... encourage the cities where you live and work to participate!!)
As I've had the fortune to be working closely with CDP Cities over the last 2 years, I'm pleased to report that CDP has won the prestigious Zayed Future Energy Prize in recognition of the organization's contributions to addressing climate change. This prize brings CDP well deserved recognition in addition to a monetary reward that will go far to support the non-profit organization's growth.
Congratulations to all the great folks at CDP who made this happen!
How can you help? CDP Cities is actively seeking information from more cities for the 2012 report. The 2012 information request is open and CDP can use your help to encourage the cities where you work and live to report carbon emissions to this growing body of invaluable data that can help us chart the best solutions for management and growth to help reduce and protect against climate change!