Creation and Third-party Verification of Large Governmental Greenhouse Gas Emission Report

Abstract

The changing climate impacts society and the ecosystem in many
ways including disastrous frequency, public health, energy supplies,
and more. As the state’s public policies become more stringent with
climate policy, local governments are mandated to report their green-
house gases (GHG) emissions and to make plans for measurable GHG
reductions in subsequent years. Among the top five populous counties
in the United States*, the County of San Diego (CoSD) oversees over
1000 facilities, consuming over 100 GWh annually. In the processes of
creating an organizational greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions inventory
report using the Climate Registry Information System (CRIS), the CoSD
encountered many complications in the data collection and reporting
requirements. From obtaining third-party verification to validating
results, this article presents an insight on understanding obstacles and
leverages to achieve a high level of confidence in reporting for large
governmental bodies.