Conclusion
Greenhouse gas emissions: reduction issues and accounting methods

It would be interesting to place this GHG accounting exercise in a more global context (broader than the term "sustainable development").

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is an essential part of any sustainable development approach. Quantifying emissions by means of an inventory is the first necessary step in implementing effective, well-thought-out measures.

Greenhouse gas inventories are used in response to regulatory requirements, to a policy of monitoring and reducing GHG emissions, to a policy of anticipating the rising cost of fossil fuels, to a customer request, to a need to raise awareness, and so on. The results obtained help to identify areas for improvement, with a view to enhancing the efficiency of a company's operations or product manufacturing.

Defining objectives is a fundamental step upstream. It...