Together with Paris and Munich, Zurich was selected as a pilot city for the EU project “ICOS Cities”. The aim of the project is to precisely measure the CO₂ emissions of cities and make them comprehensible using models. This is crucial for demonstrating progress in reducing emissions and achieving climate targets efficiently.
To this end, Empa is expanding an existing CO₂ measurement network to 60 locations in the city. Inexpensive sensors record data unobtrusively on street lamps and trees. In addition, more complex instruments were installed on mobile phone antennas and precise measurements were carried out on a measuring tower. “There is no diet without scales,” explains Lukas Emmenegger from Empa, emphasizing the importance of reliable data.
From measurement to modeling
A central goal of the project is to translate the selective measurements into precise models. These not only show where CO₂ is produced, but also take into account factors such as weather and natural cycles. Empa is developing two models for this purpose, a city model that breaks down emissions by kilometer and a high-resolution model that even makes emissions from individual buildings visible.
The results are promising: during the energy crisis in the winter of 2022/23, the researchers were able to measure and model a significant reduction in emissions. “Our models work,” confirms Dominik Brunner, an expert in CO₂ modeling at Empa.
A cookbook for the climate future
The “ICOS Cities” project runs until 2025 and aims to develop a kind of “cookbook”, a guide on how cities can measure, analyze and reduce their emissions. Zurich’s role as a committed partner city makes the city a pioneer. “We hope that our findings will help Zurich to achieve its climate targets,” says Emmenegger.
With this knowledge, Zurich could not only accelerate its own progress, but also serve as a model for other cities in Europe.
