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Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) from energy use, waste, and transportation trap heat and drive climate change impacts like rising temperatures, sea levels, and extreme weather. Cambridge is committed to significantly reducing GHGs by 2050 to help avoid these severe impacts. 

Community GHG Emissions

Our Goals

Cambridge has established a goal to have net zero GHG emissions community-wide by 2050.

In 2022, the City conducted a greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions inventory with data from 2019. Cambridge has committed to the Global Covenant of Mayors (GCoM), a global network of cities that have committed to reducing emissions, which requires that we update the inventory every 3 to 5 years. 

UNIT

Greenhouse gases (GHGs) have a natural heat trapping capacity which varies by gas. Humans produce more carbon dioxide (CO2) than any other GHG. We count emissions of GHGs based on how each GHG’s heat trapping capacity compares to CO2s. This is called the "CO2 equivalent" (CO2e). We measure GHGs in metric tons of CO2e (MTCO2e).

MTCO2eMetric Tons Carbon Dioxide Equivalent

Greenhouse gases (GHGs) have a natural heat trapping capacity which varies by gas. Humans produce more carbon dioxide (CO2) than any other GHG. We count emissions of GHGs based on how each GHG’s heat trapping capacity compares to CO2s. This is called the "CO2 equivalent" (CO2e). We measure GHGs in metric tons of CO2e (MTCO2e).

MTCO2eMetric Tons Carbon Dioxide Equivalent

How Does Cambridge Track Emissions?

Cambridge has reduced its GHG emissions from Municipal operations by 38% between 2008 and 2022 by decreasing energy use, switching to cleaner fuels, and reducing waste.

Learn more about Cambridge's GHG Emissions Inventories