Читать книгу The Climate City - Группа авторов - Страница 23

We will unpack each of the terms above and what it means for cities, but we should first explain the “and Beyond” of the title, as its meaning is designed to be taken in at least two ways. For cities to set climate action goals solely through a lens of GHG emissions would be too narrow and not recognize the complex set of interconnected goals and stakeholders. All climate goals in a municipal environment are often phrased within the Brundtland Commission definition of sustainability,⁷ encompassing sustainability for social, economic, and environmental benefit. The UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have built on this important work over decades, and we have since heard most sustainability targets referring to not only the destination but also the nature of the transition, and the ambition to make the transition a just one. Beyond climate and human equity, biodiversity, water, and land stewardship are also critical considerations for any city.

The second intended orientation of setting “Net-Zero and Beyond” goals is leaving the “Net-Zero” market behind in the past. Cities hopefully become “Climate Positive” rather than just aiming for “Net-Zero”. “Climate positive” is an increasingly used alternative to “carbon negative” that emphasizes the benefits of aggressive climate action. “Net-Zero” hopefully becomes a well-defined marker that many cities leave behind – and ideally well before 2050.⁸