Forest Footprint for Cities: Methods for Estimating Deforestation and Associated CO2 Emissions Embodied in Products Consumed in Cities

The products that cities consume have major impacts on tropical and subtropical forests, as these products can contribute to deforestation and harmful land use change. However, it can be difficult for a city to understand its specific impact on these faraway forests.

The Forest Footprint for Cities is designed to help cities visualize the impacts of their consumption on the world’s forests, paving the way for city governance and sustainability planning that better addresses these impacts. This methodology explains how Forest Footprints are calculated. These calculations underpin the forthcoming Forest Footprint dashboard.

Mack Phillips, Scott Francisco, Sarah Wilson, Paige Langer, Larissa Jarvis, Noah Garcia