About Project 2°
Project 2° was created to give cities around the world practical tools to measure and reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. The project’s Web-based Emissions Tracker software enables cities to calculate the carbon footprint of both municipal operations and the communities they service in a uniform way. Additionally, the tool enables cities to plan meaningful actions that save energy and money and that make a profound impact in the fight against climate change.
Project 2° software allows cities to establish a baseline on their greenhouse gas emissions, manage inventories, create action plans, track the effectiveness of their emissions reduction programs, and share experiences with each other. It will be the first global, multi-lingual emissions measurement toolset available 24 hours a day, seven days a week via the Web.
Users input data on emission producing activities such as fuel and electricity consumption, vehicle traffic, waste production, industrial processes and air and sea vessel fuel use. The software then converts the data into tons of CO2 equivalent, taking into consideration the source and type of energy and fuel used. Once data has been entered, users can customize the data and coefficients for the calculations. Data is managed in a private and secure environment that allows administrators to choose what data to publish and share with other users.
The tool is designed to be compatible with internationally accepted protocols such as those developed by the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the World Resources Institute (WRI), World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), and ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability. The tool will allow cities to produce a standardized report showing graphs, charts and comments and to slice data by sector and jurisdiction.
This common measurement system will enable cities to easily compare and share best practices on emissions reductions, energy savings, cost savings, and other project benefits.
Cities will provide all local activity data for input into the system. To prepare, cities should start collecting the following data that is in most cases available from energy utilities and local suppliers, taxation or other regulatory agencies:
- Existing emissions inventories and mitigation project analyses.
- Data on energy and electricity use within the community and city operations
- Transportation data, such as on-road travel distances and rail fuel use
- Waste management data, including information on historical waste disposal
- Information on major industries within the city or unique city operations that may impact emission footprints, such as manufacturing or electricity generation.
For additional information, cities should to refer to the information found on the Resources section of the site.
Project 2° software is being developed iteratively to meet the fast pace and evolving nature of the climate change field. Translations to other languages are in development, and additional features will be added in upcoming releases.
Project 2° is a collaboration of the Clinton Climate Initiative (CCI) and Microsoft Corporation. Additional expertise was provided by Ascentium Corporation, ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability and the Center for Neighborhood Technology (CNT).
According to the UN, 2° Celsius is the maximum allowable change in global temperatures without catastrophic consequences.
For questions or comments about Project 2°, please contact
admin@project2degrees.org