Cities' Carbon Scorecard: In Which Two Frameworks Does the GPC Address Emissions?

The Two Faces of GPC Emissions

Cities are at the forefront of the fight against climate change. But measuring a city's environmental impact is like solving a complex puzzle. Do emissions occur within the city's borders, or are they generated elsewhere by an activity in the city? This is where the GPC Standard comes in, which is designed to help cities determine their greenhouse gas emissions in a consistent, transparent and globally recognized framework.

To manage this complexity, the GPC requires reporting emissions not from a single window, but from two complementary main frameworks: Territorial Framework and City-induced Framework. So what is the main difference between these two approaches and why do we need both?

1. Territorial Framework: Looking Inside Borders

At its simplest, the regional framework focuses on geography. This approach only covers emissions physically generated within the defined geographical boundaries of the city. This framework often overlaps with so-called Scope 1 emissions. For example:

• Exhaust from fossil fuel buses traveling within the city boundary.
• Fuels burned within the boundary to heat buildings in the city.

Why is it important?

The main purpose of the regional framework is to ensure consistency with national inventories. Since countries report their emissions according to their geographical boundaries, it is vital that cities speak the same language to ensure that national data is aggregated correctly.

2. City-induced Framework: Tracing the Activity

Looking only within borders is not enough to show the true impact of a modern city. The City-Sourced Framework paints a broader picture, including emissions triggered by activities in the city, even if they do not occur within the city's boundaries.

The GPC divides emissions into three main categories (scope/scope) based on where they occur, and the City Source Framework is a combination of these scopes (Scopes 1, 2 and 3). This framework includes the following:

• Scope 1 (Territorial): Direct resources within the boundary.
• Scope 2 (Energy Indirect): Emissions from grid electricity, heat or cooling used within the city boundary but usually generated outside the city. For example, grid electricity used in commercial or residential buildings falls into this group.
• Scope 3 (Other Indirect): Emissions that occur outside the city as a result of activities within the city boundaries. The most common example is emissions from the disposal of waste generated in the city in a landfill outside the city.

Why is it important?

This framework shows the actual load from city activity. A city may not have a power plant (zero Regional emissions), but its intensive electricity consumption causes a power plant elsewhere to produce emissions (high City-Source emissions).

Conclusion Two Frameworks, One Goal

By combining these two frameworks, the GPC Standard enables cities to both align with national targets and see the real results of their own consumption and waste management policies. Cities can thus establish a reliable emissions baseline year and transparently monitor their performance over time.