Exploring Linkages Between National and Corporate/Facility Greenhouse Gas Inventoriesby , , and -
National and corporate/facility level GHG inventory systems can help countries address climate change. However, these systems are often developed independently of each other, and confusion exists regarding the purpose of and need for each inventory type. This working paper seeks to describe national and corporate/facility GHG inventories, highlighting major differences.
The paper also explores potential inventory system linkages to support the efficient use of country resources.
Inventories of greenhouse gases prepared at the national level and at the corporate/facility level can complement each other and help decision-makers understand emission trends and inform mitigation activities, among other functions. Most countries already have at least some experience preparing national inventories and may have also developed a national inventory system. At the same time, corporate/facility reporting programs are becoming more prevalent. However, the two systems are often developed independently of each other, and as a result countries are unable to capitalize on potential linkages between them. Moreover, confusion often surrounds the purpose and need for corporate/facility inventory programs when data are already being collected and disclosed for national inventories.
This working paper describes national and corporate/facility inventories and outlines the various roles they can play related to emissions measurement, management, and policymaking. It also discusses corporate/facility reporting programs and compares national and corporate/facility inventory systems to highlight their differences. It then explores possible linkages between corporate/facility programs and national inventory systems. These linkages include the use of source-level data from facilities to improve accuracy and/or provide validation to national emissions estimates as well as the use of existing institutional and technical capacities, likely associated with developing a national inventory, to support a corporate/facility reporting program. Utilizing these linkages can enhance the quality of information provided in both national and corporate/facility inventories, thus strengthening the foundation for subsequent mitigation efforts. The linkages discussed could facilitate efforts to reduce emissions in countries with competing demands within a mitigation program and limited resources.