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The decarbonisation of cities is a fundamental pillar in the fight against climate change. In this context, the Master’s Thesis ‘Methodology to estimate the CO2 emissions and the decarbonisation potential in Scope 3 at the neighbourhood level. Case study Benicalap in Valencia, Spain’, developed by [name of the author], proposes an innovative methodology to address Scope 3 emissions at the neighbourhood level, focusing on Benicalap, a neighbourhood in the city of Valencia.
Project focus
Cities are responsible for more than 70% of CO2 emissions worldwide. However, decarbonisation policies tend to focus on direct emissions at the governmental and industrial level, leaving aside the indirect emissions associated with citizens’ consumption habits, such as food, clothing or travel. This work addresses this shortcoming by developing a replicable methodological approach to quantify and mitigate indirect emissions at the neighbourhood level.
The project is aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda, providing a practical tool for local governments wishing to achieve carbon neutrality and foster citizen awareness.
Methodology applied
The project was developed in several phases:
- State of the art and inventory of emissions: Based on a literature review, eleven key subsectors were defined and their emissions quantified. These include the consumption of food and beverages, clothing, the purchase of new cars, and transport for tourism, leisure and work.
- Sensitivity analysis: The relative impact of each sub-sector on Benicalap’s total emissions was evaluated, identifying that the four main ones represent 75% of the neighbourhood’s emissions.
- Proposal for mitigation measures: Twelve key measures were designed with targets for 2035. These include the promotion of diets with lower red meat consumption, the promotion of local and seasonal foods, the circular economy and the use of rail transport instead of private cars.
- Roadmap for decarbonisation: Based on previous analyses, an action plan was developed to achieve a 16% reduction in the neighbourhood’s indirect emissions by 2035.
Key findings
The project identifies that citizens’ consumption habits have a significant impact on CO2 emissions at the neighbourhood level. Among the most relevant results are:
- Four critical subsectors: The consumption of food and drink (particularly red meat), clothing, new cars and transport for leisure, work and tourism are the main generators of indirect emissions.
- Effective mitigation: The proposed measures have the potential to reduce total Scope 3 emissions in Benicalap by 16%.
- Social and technical focus: In addition to the technical and environmental aspects, the project includes a social dimension that seeks to raise citizens’ awareness of their environmental impact.
Contribution to a sustainable future
This Master’s Thesis stands out for its innovative and practical approach. By focusing on a local level such as the neighbourhood, it offers a closer and more applicable perspective to citizens, promoting their active participation in the energy and climate transition.
Furthermore, the methodological approach developed is completely replicable, allowing other neighbourhoods, both in Spain and in other countries, to benefit from this tool to move towards carbon neutrality.
Decarbonisation starts from the bottom up, and this project demonstrates that neighbourhoods are not only recipients of policies, but key agents in the transformation towards a more sustainable future.
