ABSTRACT
This part introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters. The part focuses on the issue of mitigation —the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. It introduces key concepts regarding how urban areas can reduce energy use and emissions, how emissions are accounted for, and what other benefits reductions are likely to provide. The part describes a very straight-forward way to think about what will be required to halt the increase in carbon build up in the atmosphere. It demonstrates how an intellectual argument to inform public policy is built. The part explores primarily on local governments reducing their own emissions and creating the regulatory and fiscal conditions that encourage individuals to make climate-smart choices. One of the long-recognized challenges of mitigation is that the costs tend to be local, while the benefits are global.
