With the CDP Cities Pilot Program, ICLEI and the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) team up to help more than 21 major U.S. cities voluntarily report their greenhouse gas emissions and other climate change-related data.

Local governments continue their leadership on climate-change issues by taking part in the CDP Cities Pilot Program, a joint effort by ICLEI and the Carbon Disclosure Project. Through this voluntary program, more than 20 large urban centers (see list below) have agreed to publicly disclose their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions data and their analysis of climate change risks, opportunities, and adaptation plans.

Most of these cities are already in the process of calculating and assembling their GHG emissions data—some have even finished—using ICLEI’s tools and resources, including its Clean Air and Climate Protection (CACP) software, and its Local Government Greenhouse Gas Protocol. Pilot cities will then report their data using CDP’s Online Response System; they can also highlight key actions taken to reduce their emissions.

Pilot cities are asked to disclose the following:

• the climate change-related risks and opportunities they face
• an inventory of their GHG emissions
• reduction targets and strategies
• governance and accountability

Through this reporting, participating cities will help increase national awareness of climate change-related issues. They will also give other local governments an opportunity to learn from them. Following the completion of the pilot program in early 2009, the program will be open to all local governments nationwide. A final report of the results of the pilot program will also be developed and available on the ICLEI website.

Pilot Program Cities