Global Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory Methodology

Abstract An emission inventory is a powerful, multi-purpose tool used by regulators, public interest groups and other stakeholders in the environmental protection arena. Given growing conviction that market-based approaches are more effective than command-and-control regulations, inventories will increasingly be used to influence the behavior of companies in the market place. Carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions are becoming important elements in the emissions inventory. Under the Framework Convention for Climate Change and now the Kyoto Protocol, the emissions inventory of nations as well as the regulated community will come under additional scrutiny as emissions targets and time tables will have to be met once the Protocol is put in place. Data accuracy and consistency, and the cost and timing of delivery of data from Texaco's worldwide business units were important considerations in the selection of Texaco's emissions inventory methodology. This methodology is based primarily upon the coupling of emission factors with fuel or product throughput, or equipment component count. The Texaco emission source list is comprehensive and, in some cases, the emissions factors used are based on more recent source measurements with greater accuracy. This paper describes the basis for the generation of a Texaco worldwide emissions inventory.