utslippsinventar

The utslippsinventar, Swedish for “emission inventory,” is a systematic inventory of all greenhouse gas emissions and removals from a defined area, sector, or activity. It is a core tool for national and international climate policy, allowing governments to monitor progress towards emission reduction targets, identify the main sources and sinks of greenhouse gases, and evaluate the effectiveness of mitigation measures.

An emission inventory typically follows the guidance of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and national regulations. It is built on three components: the basis (time period, spatial extent, and gases covered), the data set (activity data such as fuel consumption, vehicle mileage, industrial production), and the emission factors (coefficients that convert activity into emissions). The inventory can be disaggregated by sector—transport, energy, industry, agriculture, land use, waste, and others—to provide a granular picture of emissions.

The primary users of utslippsinventar are national governments, which report to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change under the Paris Agreement. The inventories feed national emission reduction plans (NDCs) and are used by international agencies like the World Bank, the Global Carbon Project, and the European Union. They also support climate finance assessments and benchmarking of corporate sustainability reporting.

Common challenges include data availability, particularly for small and medium enterprises, and uncertainty in emission factors. To improve accuracy, many countries conduct periodic validation studies, engage in the IPCC methodology workshops, and develop national standards for data reporting.

In practice, Sweden publishes its national emission inventory every few years, using detailed sectoral data and refined emission factors. The inventories reveal that electricity generation, transportation, and industry remain the largest contributors to Swedish CO₂ equivalent emissions, while forestry and land-use changes act as significant removals. The proceedings of these inventories are essential for maintaining transparency, driving policy feasibility, and engaging stakeholders across the public and private sectors.