English - Covenant of Mayors

1. Introduction
The Baseline Emission Inventory (BEI) quantifies the
amount of CO 2
emitted due to energy consumption in the
territory of the local authority (i.e. Covenant Signatory) ( 1 )
in the baseline year. It allows to identify the principal
anthropogenic sources of CO 2
emissions and to prioritise
the reduction measures accordingly. The local authority
may include also CH 4
and N 2
O emissions in the BEI.
Inclusion of CH 4
and N 2
O depends on whether measures
to reduce also these greenhouse gases (GHGs) are
planned in the Sustainable Energy Action Plan (SEAP),
and also on the emission factor approach chosen
(standard or life cycle assessment (LCA)). For simplicity,
we mainly refer to CO 2
in these guidelines, but it can be
understood to mean also other GHGs like CH 4
and N 2
O
in the case that the local authority includes them in the
BEI and SEAP in general.
Elaborating a BEI is of critical importance. This is because
the inventory will be the instrument allowing the local
authority to measure the impact of its actions related to
climate change. The BEI will show where the local authority
was at the beginning, and the successive monitoring
emission inventories will show the progress towards the
objective. Emission inventories are very important
elements to maintain the motivation of all parties willing to
contribute to the local authority’s CO 2
reduction objective,
allowing them to see the results of their efforts.
The overall CO 2
reduction target of the Covenant of
Mayors Signatories is at least 20 % reduction in 2020
achieved through the implementation of the SEAP for
those areas of activity relevant to the local authority’s
mandate. The reduction target is defined in comparison
to the baseline year which is set by the local authority. The
local authority can decide to set the overall CO 2
emission
reduction target either as ‘absolute reduction’ or ‘per
capita reduction’, as is explained in Chapter 5.2.
According to the principles laid out in the Covenant of
Mayors, each signatory is responsible for the emissions
occurring due to energy consumption in its territory.
Therefore, emission credits bought or sold on the carbon
market do not intervene in the BEI/MEI. However this does
not prevent signatories to use carbon markets and related
instruments to finance their SEAP measures.
The BEI quantifies the emissions that occurred in the
baseline year. In addition to the inventory of the baseline
year, emission inventories will be compiled in the later
years to monitor the progress towards target. Such an
emission inventory is called Monitoring Emission Inventory
(MEI). The MEI will follow the same methods and principles
as the BEI. The acronym BEI/MEI is used when describing
issues which are common for both BEI and MEI. Specific
guidelines for monitoring SEAP implementation will be
published in 2010.
In these guidelines, advice and recommendations for
compiling a BEI/MEI under the Covenant of Mayors are
presented. Some of the definitions and recommendations
are unique to the inventories under the Covenant of
Mayors, in order to enable the inventories to demonstrate
the progress towards the target of the Covenant.
However, as far as possible, the concepts, methodologies
and definitions in internationally agreed standards are
followed in these guidelines. For example, the local
authority is encouraged to use emission factors that are
in line with those of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change (IPCC) or European Reference Life Cycle Database
(ELCD). However, the local authority is given the
flexibility to use any approach or tool that it considers
appropriate for the purpose.
The results of the BEI are reported by using the SEAP
template which is published online at www.eumayors.eu.
The SEAP template tables related to the Baseline Emission
Inventory are shown in Annex II of these guidelines.
5
(1) ‘territory of the local authority’ refers to the geographical area within the administrative boundaries of the entity governed by the local authority.