The problem with holding countries, cities, and even individual companies accountable for their pledges to cut down on emissions is that monitoring emissions is a real challenge. We can estimate with relative accuracy how much a certain entity is emitting, but tracking down the exact amount remains difficult. The good news is scientists are getting close to being able to trace and monitor greenhouse-gas emissions thanks to advancements in technology. China is far ahead when it comes to such technology as the government publishes real-time emissions data on its 40,000 largest polluters. Through an app, citizens can access that data, which helps to motivate sluggish officials without additional regulation simply by marshaling citizen outrage.
Holding cities accountable to their emissions targets will soon be easier
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