Inventory GHG Emissions

The very first step to developing a climate action plan includes conducting a baseline inventory of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. A complete inventory is a measurement of total GHG emissions directly and indirectly contributed by municipal operations and the community as a whole.

• Stationary Combustion of fuel in fixed locations such as burning natural gas to heat buildings;
• Mobile Combustion of fuel from transportation sources such as using gasoline for waste-hauling fleet vehicles and off-road equipment;
• Process Emissions from physical or chemical processing such as methane and nitrous oxide from wastewater treatment facilities;
• Fugitive Emissions that are not physically controlled such as methane from landfills; and
• Indirect Emissions from electricity usage.

Municipal Operations GHG Inventory

Cities and counties are encouraged to use the Local Government Operations Protocol (LGOP) standards to conduct a baseline GHG emissions inventory for municipal operations. The LGOP provides “program neutral” guidance for use by any local government engaging in a GHG inventory exercise. The reporting protocol includes a standardized set of guidelines, methodologies and calculations for local governments to estimate and report GHG emission inventories from municipal operations.

Community GHG Inventory

The Statewide Energy Efficiency Collaborative (SEEC) offers a Community GHG Inventory Tool to assist local government staff to conduct a community-wide GHG emissions inventory. The SEEC alliance currently offers this tool at no cost to California cities and counties.

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