Integrated framework for carbon stocks and flows at the city level: developing an integrated framework for city-level carbon accounting

​​Cities are engines of economic growth and they would have to play a significant role in the decarbonisation process.  Many cities have responded to the climate issue by declaring climate emergencies and setting plans for rapid decarbonisation. This requires accurate, granular data in a timely manner.  

​Accordingly, this project will develop a comprehensive framework that integrates data sources to quantify carbon stocks and flows within urban environments. This includes considering emissions from various sectors such as transportation, energy, and waste management. The project will combine open data sources (namely satellite data of carbon emissions, geospatial data of existing networks and infrastructure, building stocks, land use patterns, ground-based measurements, existing municipal records, etc.) and statistical data from published sources (NSO), reconcile the data from different sources and create a tool to extract relevant data at the granular level for a detailed spatial representation of carbon stocks and flows. The changes in land use, vegetation as well as carbon exchanges across the boundary will be captured.  Implement machine learning algorithms to enhance the accuracy and granularity of the collected data. It will validate the framework through 1-2 case studies and comparisons with existing carbon accounting methods.  

​An expected outcome is to deliver a robust and adaptable framework for city-level carbon accounting, providing a valuable tool for urban planners, policymakers, and researchers alongside with 1-2 case studies. Publish research papers detailing the methodology, findings, and implications of the integrated framework in reputable journals, contributing to the academic discourse on urban decarbonisation. 

Open to both UK and international candidates.

Up to 30% of our UKRI-funded studentships can be awarded to candidates paying international rate fees. Find out more about eligibility.

You will need to meet the minimum entry requirements for our PhD programme. ​​We are looking for highly motivated candidates with requisite skills and knowledge. ​Experience of working with processing and manipulating large volume of statistical, geospatial and satellite data will be beneficial. Knowledge of carbon accounting, energy systems, databases, data analysis and modelling will be beneficial as well.