ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the relationship between population size of cities and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions using data from the US urban system. One of the most salient characteristics of an urban area is it population size as it is both determinant and consequent of the socio-economic activity occurring within cities. The population size of a city, as well as its spatial organization and structure can influence energy consumption. Energy is needed to both maintain existing infrastructure and to fuel economic activity while economic activity in turn affects energy demand. Population size and energy consumption in cities have often been analyzed through the concept of "urban metabolism". The chapter uses CO2 emissions data from Project Vulcan that quantifies US fossil fuel carbon dioxide emissions at 10 km×10 km grid and at the scale of individual factories, power plants, roadways and neighborhoods on an hourly basis.
