Emission inventory compilation: from scavenging to predation

Emission inventories provide a more or less scientific tool for policies and measures in the climate change and air pollution fields (Pulles & Heslinga, 2009). The development of these inventories and the methods applied in them shows an interesting path from scavenging whatever data and information the inventory team can find towards a well-organized and targeted activity where these experts now hunt for data they need. This development should be of interest to any inventory team in any developed or developing country given the responsibility to report national inventories within the UN climate change framework of the National Communications (NC) and Biennial Update Reports (BURs) as of 2014 (UNFCCC, 2013).