LAUSR

This research aims to introduce a conceptual model for reduction of carbon dioxide (CO2) in an urban for developing intervention strategies. For this purpose, the system dynamics methodology is used for modelling the causal feedback loops. City of Mashhad in Iran is nominated for this research. The model facilitates policymaking and scenario planning for urban development simultaneously with CO2 emission reduction. The study shows how different urban subsystems can interactionally increase or decrease CO2 emissions and also the importance of paying attention to the interactions when policy making for CO2 reduction, even more than considering each subsystem separately. It presents a novel system dynamics (SD) model for demonstrating long-term interactions of urban subsystems regarding CO2 emissions which has not been studied in Iran. It also encompasses some new variables which have not been studied in previous similar studies.