Publication Details |
| Category | Text Publication |
| Reference Category | Journals |
| DOI | 10.1016/j.landurbplan.2011.10.013 |
| Title (Primary) | The carbon footprint of urban green space - a life cycle approach |
| Author | Strohbach, M.W.; Arnold, E.; Haase, D. |
| Journal | Landscape and Urban Planning |
| Year | 2012 |
| Department | CLE |
| Volume | 104 |
| Issue | 2 |
| Page From | 220 |
| Page To | 229 |
| Language | englisch |
| Keywords | Carbon sequestration; Urban forestry; Life cycle assessment; Urban decline; Urban reconstruction |
| Abstract | Cities play an important role in the global carbon cycle. They produce a large proportion of CO2
emissions, but they also sequester and store carbon in urban forests
and green space. However, sequestration by urban green space is
difficult to quantify and also involves emissions. The carbon footprint
analysis is an established method for systematically quantifying carbon
sinks and sources throughout the lifetime of goods and services. We
applied this method to an urban green space project in Leipzig, Germany.
To the best of our knowledge it is the first application in this field.
We simulated carbon sequestration by growing trees and contrasted it
with all related carbon sources, from construction and maintenance over
the lifetime of 50 years. In addition, we explored alternative design
and maintenance scenarios. Total net sequestration was predicted to be
between 137 and 162 MgCO2 ha−1. Park-like design
and maintenance is less effective than forest-like design and
maintenance. Much uncertainty is linked to tree growth and tree
mortality. Increasing annual tree mortality from 0.5 to 4% reduces
sequestration by over 70%. In conclusion, urban green space can act as a
carbon sink and the design and maintenance have a strong influence on
the carbon footprint. The carbon footprint analysis is a valuable tool
for estimating the long-term environmental performance of urban green
space projects. Compared to emissions from people, the overall potential
for carbon mitigation is limited, even in cities such as Leipzig with
widely available space for new urban green space. |
| Persistent UFZ Identifier | https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=11834 |
| Strohbach, M.W., Arnold, E., Haase, D. (2012): The carbon footprint of urban green space - a life cycle approach Landsc. Urban Plan. 104 (2), 220 - 229 |
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