Southampton’s carbon footprint it to be calculated in a pioneering project which could be rolled out in cities across the globe.
Southampton City Council has commissioned climate change experts at the University of Southampton to create the most accurate snapshot of a city’s carbon emissions anywhere in the world.
The three year study, which is costing the council £55,000, will see the carbon footprint of the city created, which the council can then use to dramatically slash the city’s carbon emissions.
It is hoped that the scientific model used to calculate the carbon footprint could then be applied to any town or city in the world – providing authorities with the latest tool to help them fight climate change.
Councillor Matt dean, Cabinet Member for Environment, said: “We are a coastal city with a huge number of homes in low-lying areas. We need to show leadership because we are going to be affected more than most.
“Councils must wake up to climate change and act now. This project will allow us to look at the areas of the city where carbon emissions are high. We can then target those areas and businesses to help them slash their carbon emissions. The data will also be used to determine the environmental impact of future developments and policy decisions.”
The Government has set local authorities tough carbon reduction targets - with reductions of 80 per cent having to be met by 2050.
“It is only by embracing initiatives like this that we can hope to meet these reductions,” said Cllr Dean.
University of Southampton Lecturer Simon Kemp, said: “No other city in the world has ever conducted such a detailed carbon footprint study. We are also working with city businesses such as Ford, West Quay, local hospitals and the docks, as we need their support to make this happen.”
Postgraduate researcher Laurie Wright is currently analysing the city’s entire housing stock, traffic flow and the impact of industries such as retail and the docks. He said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for me to contribute towards a groundbreaking piece of work and I’m sure that other cities will closely follow what Southampton is doing to tackle climate change with great interest.”
