Development of a sustainability metric and model for measuring community greenhouse gas emissions for  creditation to the EU ZECOS scheme - application in EU communities

This research evaluated the feasibility of a rural community reaching energy dependency and achieving zero CO2 emissions. Ballynagran in Glenealy, Co. Wicklow was selected for this research because of the actions that local residents have taken in response to the siting of a landfill in their community. The carbon intensity of the energy consumption and activities of the residents within the community was measured using an appropriate bottom-up Material Flow Accounting and survey method. A review of suitable interventions and policies was conducted to complement the data which was integrated into the settlements database. This data was subsequently added to the sustainability metric to evaluate the Sustainable Development Index of Ballynagran. Outputs from the metric allowed Ballynagran to be ranked against other settlements and change scenarios. The change scenarios take into consideration the goals set by the community to reduce CO2 emissions from energy consumption. The change scenarios incorporated policy led interventions and community led interventions into the metric to allow a re-evaluation of the communities Sustainable Development Index. This bottom-up Material Flow Accounting and survey method provides a transparent and appropriate measure of the impact that occurs as a result of human activities. The high quality, site specific data collected allowed for targeted interventions to be developed and implemented. 

Unlike many metrics which demonstrate the effect of top-down policy, the metric developed and described in this research provides an accessible method of model building based on pre-defined goals.

Very little, quantitatively or qualitatively, is known about the processes behind community initiatives and their effectiveness. A greater understanding of the role that community led interventions has and their effectiveness is needed to improve and promote their implementation.

Measuring the effect of interventions is important to inform community actors and stakeholders of progress, if any, made. It also provides for evidence based decision making with regard to how project phases should proceed, where investment, time and capital, should be targeted and as an incentive to other communities embarking on such projects. Community projects, with a focus on energy, waste reduction, resource consumption and transport issues, may be instrumental in behavioural change strategies that mitigate the effects that our currently growing economy are predicted to have on consumption levels.