Cities are the largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions and therefore are a major part of the solution. This makes improved monitoring in urban areas essential for effective mitigation measures.
From 7-9 April, the Integrated Global Greenhouse Gas Information System (IG3IS) and the Integrated Carbon Observation System (ICOS) Cities Project co-hosted the Urban Greenhouse Gas Conference and Stakeholder Summit 2025 at WMO headquarters in Geneva.
One of the biggest events globally for the topic of greenhouse gas (GHG) monitoring and mitigation in cities, the event brought together scientists and stakeholders to engage in dialogue, share results of the latest research, and finalize the draft IG3IS Urban Good Practice Guidelines .
"This year, WMO is celebrating its 75th anniversary as a UN specialized agency under the theme of Science for Action, which encapsulates the essence of WMOs work: Science for Action. The Urban Greenhouse Gas Conference and Stakeholder Summit is a powerful demonstration of the WMO working together with partners to bring together cutting-edge researchers with important decision-makers to mutually reinforce their shared goal of improving people's lives around the world," said Johan Stander, the Senior Director of WMO Services Department.
Urban areas cover a relatively small portion of the total surface of the Earth; however, they are responsible for roughly 70% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
That is why many cities have set up ambitious greenhouse gas reduction goals. To achieve these goals, cities need reliable, targeted, and relevant greenhouse gas information.
Methods to collect such high-quality information were presented and discussed throughout the three-day event, such as the value of combining atmospheric observations with activity data to improve GHG emission quantification. There are 31 different techniques that are described in the good practices. Such diversity of approaches allows to support solutions for the diverse user groups.
In addition to technological innovation, GHG reduction goals can only be achieved if the tools and methods are accessible to the non-technical stakeholders responsible for their implementation and usage. To achieve this goal the last day of the conference was dedicated to the dialogue with the stakeholder where cities need, knowledge gaps and engagement strategies were discussed through the panel discussions.
