Community Protocol Overview

• The U.S. Community Protocol for Accounting and Reporting Greenhouse Gas Emissions (Community Protocol) is designed to inspire and guide U.S. local governments to account for and report on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with the communities they represent.
• Building on previous advice provided by ICLEI and others, this Community Protocol represents a new national standard that establishes requirements and recommended best practices for developing community GHG emissions inventories.
• A consistent national standard allows local governments to more easily develop high-quality GHG inventories and measure progress toward their emissions reduction goals and communicate results with their community members.

Community Protocol Summarized: Three Steps for GHG Accounting & Reporting

Step One: Conduct the Scoping Process

• Consider the GHG emission sources and activities you wish to report on and the stories you wish to convey about GHG emissions associated with your community. At a minimum, the following Five Basic Emissions Generating Activities must be included in the inventory:
  
  • Use of electricity by the community
  • Use of fuel in residential and commercial stationary combustion equipment
  • On-road passenger and freight motor vehicle travel
  • Use of energy in potable water and wastewater treatment and distribution
  • Generation of solid waste by the community

Local governments are strongly encouraged to include other sources and activities in accounting and reporting as well.

Step Two: Perform Emissions Calculations
Gather data and use Protocol accounting methods to calculate emissions for selected sources and activities.

Step Three: Complete the GHG Inventory Report
Develop a report that effectively conveys information about GHG emissions associated with your community, meeting the reporting requirements described in Chapter 4.