Step 1: Inventory GHG Emissions

LocalGovernmentOfficials_Working

#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)](http://www.arb.ca.gov/cc/protocols/localgov/localgov.htm) 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](http://californiaseec.org/tools-guidance/seec-community-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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