29 January 2009
New report on the City's Carbon Footprint
Today, Thursday 29 January, the City of London Corporation
published an in-depth report on initiatives to tackle climate
change in the Square Mile. The report focussed on both business and
residential dwellings.
The City of London Corporation has established a reputation as
one of the world’s leaders in the on-going fight to tackle climate
change, having won a Beacon Award in 2008 for its ground-breaking
efforts on climate change in the Square Mile. The City Corporation
became the first local authority to develop a comprehensive Climate
Change Adaptation Strategy; and is committed to producing ongoing,
cutting edge research of environmental markets and sustainable
financial centres.
Despite the City having already taken steps to reduce its own
carbon emissions by introducing an energy management system, to
improve it must explore the wider community, the Square Mile.
The carbon footprint is presented in the research by way of
commercial floor space, worker population and residential
population. This allows for a more specific and accurate analysis
of the condition in the City.
Although the City has the highest carbon footprint of all UK
cities, releasing 1,668,165 tones of carbon dioxide (tCO2) per
annum, this is thought to be due to the City’s high electricity
consumption, and as electricity is more carbon intensive than gas
this has contributed to a higher carbon footprint. This is not
unexpected for a global financial centre such as London, with
highly energy intensive office activities such as lighting, air
conditioning and in particular data management centres.
With continued research this study will form the basis of the
City’s efforts to reduce its carbon footprint. The findings will
help with the City in finding market based solutions to the
greatest environmental threat facing the world today.
Ends
Press contact
Fiona Milligan, Senior Press Officer, City of London, telephone 020
7332 3451, email
fiona.milligan@cityoflondon.gov.uk