So far, so good? Human dimensions, multidisciplinary and the carbon cycle Joint Canada-Mexico-USA Carbon Program Planning Meeting Colorado Springs 2007 Patricia Romero Lankao

Emissions & emitters + Advancements in measurement techniques + Better estimates of carbon emissions (different sectors/levels/regions/cities - Integrated observations of biospheric & anthropogenic fluxes in built environment - Methods to incorporate observations of anthropogenic drivers - Common set of terminologies, measurement protocols, conversion factors

Big emitter? Selected Cities per Capita CO 2 equivalent emissions Sources: GDF 2004, La Rovere et al Data are for the year available in Los Angeles and Mexico City emit 234 and 64.8 mill. tons/year respectively.

Development, drivers & carbon emissions + Drivers (P.A.T., globalization, institutional settings) and of + Processes driving carbon storage and loss + Urban processes as key drivers & sources of response - Nations, regions.. diverse contributions/ response capacities - Integrated understanding of all drivers (especially at regional/local level) resulting from - “Detachment” between natural and social scientists

Mitigation: options, challenges Decisions connected with all dimensions of carbon Hard & soft options No single mitigation measure successful Portfolios of measures Options: bonuses and tradeoffs Diverse constraints May affect ecological footprints Key challenges Communication: hard to achieve (institutional capacities, different languages, etc). Uncertainty: identify it, quantify & reduce it Scenarios at local (urban) and regional levels, to compare strategies across regions

Mitigation: scales, measurements Mitigation must be addressed at a variety of scales – emissions and hence mitigation options occur over large areas and are very variable – emissions are not uniformly distributed over a year, or even a day – organisations are involved at different scales and types of engagement Measurements – Key as no mitigation strategy suitable for everyone nor everywhere – At a resolution and level of analysis appropriate to the mitigation decision – Attribution of emissions (or source apportionment) remains a considerable and unavoidable challenge

Mitigation: scales, measurements Mitigation must be addressed at a variety of scales – emissions and hence mitigation options occur over large areas and are very variable – emissions are not uniformly distributed over a year, or even a day – organisations are involved at different scales and types of engagement Measurements – Key as no mitigation strategy suitable for everyone nor everywhere – At a resolution and level of analysis appropriate to the mitigation decision – Attribution of emissions (or source apportionment) remains a considerable and unavoidable challenge

The way forward Mitigation must be addressed at a variety of scales – emissions and hence mitigation options occur over large areas and are very variable – emissions are not uniformly distributed over a year, or even a day – organisations are involved at different scales and types of engagement