Measuring the low carbon economy at the local level: A hybrid approach

Abstract

Identifying and measuring low carbon activities at the local authority level faces a number of problems related to the proliferation of overlapping low carbon concepts, a lack of data related to meaningful low carbon sectors and the rapidly changing nature of the sector. This paper provides a critical overview of the low carbon concept and presents a hybrid method of measurement involving a compromise between relatively costly bottom-up methods of data collection and the limitations of using existing data sources and statistical categories. The method maps existing national and regional survey data to the local level using an iterative scaling approach, utilising the recently developed concept of low carbon, environmental goods and services. The method is illustrated by outlining its application in the case of Plymouth within the context of a recent pilot study for the Low Carbon Framework.