Implementing Carbon-Footprint-Based Calculation Tools in Municipal Greenhouse Gas Inventories

P>Policy makers and practitioners working on local climate action continuously strive for improved greenhouse gas (GHG) inventories to support their mitigation strategies. The provision of such inventories, with the sufficient detail and quality needed, has proven to be challenging. This article describes the application of a carbon-footprint-based (CF-based) calculation tool to Norwegian municipalities. The aim is to improve the local GHG inventory, with a particular focus on the emissions resulting from the provision of services by local governments. Through selective CF analysis, we aim to illustrate the knowledge gained from implementing these tools in local climate action plans and to further contrast CF-based calculations with more traditional production-based accounting. Municipalities report they have revised their understanding of the most important GHG mitigation strategies after implementing this tool.