Measurement, Modelling, Mapping and Management (4M): An Evidence-Based Methodology for Understanding and Shrinking the Urban Carbon Footprint

全球变暖是对人类的严重威胁，温室气体特别是二氧化碳的排放加剧了全球变暖。在英国，和其他发达国家一样，建筑及其活动和交通产生了大量的碳排放：在英国，建筑占47%，交通占23%，而且还在显著上升。英国制定了具有法律约束力的温室气体减排目标，并打算到2050年将全国二氧化碳排放量减少60%。植物对碳的固存可以将碳“锁”在土壤中，并改善二氧化碳的排放。在英国，大约80%的人口居住在城市和其他城市地区，这些地区还在不断扩大。表示不同来源的碳排放量并进行比较的一种方法是计算碳足迹。这可以针对个人、家庭、城市（或国家）。然而，为了做到这一点，有一些困难的问题需要克服。4M项目将通过以下方式计算整个莱斯特市的碳足迹：*测量交通、家庭和工作场所燃烧化石燃料释放的碳，以及绿色植物和树木捕获碳并将其锁在土壤中的速度；*模拟道路布局、交通量和交通速度、我们在家庭和工作场所使用能源的方式对碳预算的影响；我们照顾绿地的方式；*绘制整个城市的碳源和碳汇，并将其与27万居民的社会和经济福利进行比较；*管理研究，研究如何通过以下方式减少城市的碳足迹：改变道路网络和/或提供更好的公共交通；改变绿化空间的维护和废物的处理；使用可再生能源和低能耗系统提供电力和照明；个人碳交易（ICT）计划的运作。信息通信技术计划向个人提供有限的碳排放分配。人们必须排放低于限额的二氧化碳，或者购买更多的信用额度。人们可能做出的权衡，例如减少旅行或购买可再生能源，将被研究。这将是探索此类方案对城市居民的生活方式和福祉可能产生的影响的首批研究之一。该项目财团由德蒙福特大学能源与可持续发展研究所（IESD）、利兹大学交通研究所（ITS）和谢菲尔德大学生物多样性和微生态小组（BIOME）组成。它得到了中央和地方政府代表的支持，以及来自各种组织的捐助者，这些组织关注英国和海外城市的未来，更可持续的发展。

Global warming is a serious threat to mankind and is exacerbated by the release of greenhouse gases, in particular carbon dioxide. In the UK, as in other developed counties, buildings, and the activities in them, and transport generate significant carbon emissions: in the UK buildings 47% and transport 23%, and rising significantly. The UK has legally binding targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and has an intention to cut national CO2 emissions by 60% by 2050. The sequestration of carbon by living plants can 'lock' carbon in soils and ameliorate carbon dioxide emissions. In the UK about 80% of the population live in cities and other urban areas and these are continually expanding. One way to represent carbon emissions from different sources and to compare them is to calculate the carbon footprint. This can be done for an individual, a household, a city (or a country). There are however some difficult problems to be overcome in order to do this.The 4M project will then calculate the carbon footprint of the entire city of Leicester by:* Measuring the carbon released by traffic, and by the burning of fossil fuels in homes and places of work and the rate at which green plants and trees capture carbon and lock it in the soil;* Modelling the effects on carbon budget of road layouts, traffic volumes and traffic speeds, the way we use energy in our homes and places of work; and the way we look after green spaces;* Mapping the sources and sinks of carbon for the whole city and comparing this with the social and economic well-being of its 270,000 inhabitants; and* Management studies which will investigate how to shrink the city's carbon footpring through: changing the road network and/or the provision of better public transport; alterations to the maintenance of green spaces and the treatment of waste; the use of renewable and low energy systems to provide power and light; and the operation of individual Carbon Trading (ICT) schemes.ICT schemes give a limited carbon emissions allocation to individuals. People must emit less carbon dioxide than their limit or buy more credits. The tradeoffs that people might make, eg travelling less or buying renewable energy, will be studied. This will be one of the first studies to explore the likely impact of such schemes on the life-styles and well-being of city dwellers. The project consortium consists of the Institute of Energy and Sustainable Development (IESD) at De Montfort University the Institute for Transport Studies (ITS) at the University of Leeds and the Biodiversity and Micro-ecology Group (BIOME) at Sheffield University. It is supported by both central and local government representatives and contributors form various organisations concerned with the future, more sustainable development, of cities in the UK and overseas.