Defining (Urban) Producer and Consumer Sinks Comments on "Gross Direct and Embodied Carbon Sinks for Urban Inventories" by Mohareb and Kennedy

作者：Wiedmann Thomas O^*

来源：Journal of Industrial Ecology, 2012, 16(3): 317-321.

DOI：10.1111/j.1530-9290.2011.00436.x

• carbon sinks
• carbon footprint
• cities
• environmental accounting
• greenhouse gas accounting
• industrial ecology

This contribution was prompted by the article Gross Direct and Embodied Carbon Sinks for Urban Inventories by Mohareb and Kennedy published in this issue. The authors define two types of urban carbon sinksdirect and embodiedand discuss their relation to producer and consumer emissions (and sinks) accounting. This commentary continues that discussion by clarifying boundary considerations and definitions between producer and consumer sinks, and between direct and indirect sinks. Extending the notion of production- versus consumption-based emissions accounting, a corollary for producer and consumer sinks can be drawn. Producer sinks would include direct sequestration through industrial and private activities occurring within a defined territory. Consumer sinks would refer to direct and indirect sequestration activities associated with the consumption of goods and services within the same territory, wherever that sequestration may occur. As with emissions accounting, in carbon sinks accounting I propose that the exact categorization depends on the perspective taken. Clear boundaries and well-defined terminologyhistorically present in emissions accountingare critical to this novel approach to sinks accounting.

• 出版日期2012-6
• 单位CSIRO