As U.S. landfills continue to grow in size, concerns about odorous gas emissions from landfills are increasing. For states that are expanding in population, such as Florida, odors from landfills are a major concern because new housing developments, needed to accommodate the rapid population growth, are creeping closer and closer to the existing landfills. As homes get closer to landfills, odor complaints are likely to become more frequent, causing landfill managers increased problems with public interactions. Odor buffer zones around landfills need to be established to give municipalities tools to help prevent the building of future homes too close to landfills. Using the latest air dispersion model, AERMOD, research predicted downwind odor concentrations from a Central Florida landfill. Accurate estimates of methane emissions throughout a Central Florida landfill were determined using a new technique developed as part of this research that uses hundreds of ambient air VOC measurements taken within a landfill, as receptors. Hundreds of point sources were placed on the landfill, and the standard Gaussian dispersion equations were solved by matrix inversion methods. The methane emission rates were then used as surrogates for odor emissions to predict downwind odor concentrations via AERMOD. By determining a critical zone around a landfill with regards to odor, stakeholders will be able to meet regulatory issues and assist their communities. Other beneficial uses from this research include: determination of existing gas collection system efficiencies, calculation of fugitive greenhouse gas emissions from municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills, and improved landfill gas management.

Decision-makers in cities have realized their pivotal role in addressing climate change, and they are responding accordingly. This thesis presents three papers that explore the process of responding to climate change in cities, highlighting the situation in selected global cities with varying economies and development priorities. The methodology for conducting an urban greenhouse gas inventory in three Chinese cities is detailed in the first paper, illustrating issues of economic development and climate change mitigation in a transitional economy. Next, the greenhouse gas emissions savings of various strategic mitigation plans are quantified for Toronto, demonstrating the aggressive actions needed in developed cities to approach carbon neutrality. The third paper explores issues associated with climate change in three developing cities, emphasizing the need for synergic development incorporating strategies for both mitigation and adaptation. The thesis concludes with an overview of the importance of innovation and further research to future responses to climate change.

Decision-makers in cities have realized their pivotal role in addressing climate change, and they are responding accordingly. This thesis presents three papers that explore the process of responding to climate change in cities, highlighting the situation in selected global cities with varying economies and development priorities. The methodology for conducting an urban greenhouse gas inventory in three Chinese cities is detailed in the first paper, illustrating issues of economic development and climate change mitigation in a transitional economy. Next, the greenhouse gas emissions savings of various strategic mitigation plans are quantified for Toronto, demonstrating the aggressive actions needed in developed cities to approach carbon neutrality. The third paper explores issues associated with climate change in three developing cities, emphasizing the need for synergic development incorporating strategies for both mitigation and adaptation. The thesis concludes with an overview of the importance of innovation and further research to future responses to climate change.

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