Greenhouse Gas Inventory Reports for Salem

Salem’s Climate Action Plan outlines strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase climate resiliency. To track progress, the City updates its sector-based greenhouse gas inventory every two to five years.

• The first inventory was completed in 2019, using data from 2016
• The most recent inventory (2021 Inventory of Community Greenhouse Gas Emissions) was completed in early 2023, using data from 2021

Why Greenhouse Gas Inventories Matter

Salem is already experiencing the effects of climate change. Everything from the food grown in the Willamette Valley to the water from the North Santiam River is at risk. Recognizing this, the 2017 Salem Strategic Plan identified greenhouse gas inventories as a way to measure the community’s environmental impact.

Greenhouse gas emissions are produced in Salem every day through activities like driving, heating homes, and cooking. Additionally, emissions are created when goods and food are manufactured elsewhere and transported to Salem. These emissions contribute to climate change, making it important to understand and reduce them.

Two Types of Greenhouse Gas Inventories

The City collects greenhouse gas data in two ways:

Sector-Based Inventory 

• Tracks emissions produced within Salem city limits.
• Includes transportation, energy use in buildings, and waste production.
• Follows the internationally accepted Global Protocol for Community-Scale Greenhouse Gas Emission Inventories.

Consumption-Based Inventory

• Tracks emissions from goods and services purchased by Salem residents, even if those emissions occur outside the city.
• Includes emissions from the production, transportation, use, and disposal of items.
• Helps understand how individual choices impact global emissions. 

It is important to note that these two inventories are not additive. Some emissions overlap, such as goods consumed in Salem that are also produced locally.

Sector-Based Inventory Results (2021)

In 2021, Salem’s residents, businesses, employees, and visitors produced over 1.2 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e). This equals about 6.94 metric tons of CO2e per person.

The largest sources of emissions were:

1. Transportation (41 percent): Emissions from vehicles and other mobile sources
   Residential Energy Use (32 percent): Emissions from electricity generation and fuel combustion (such as natural gas) in homes

Consumption-Based Inventory Results (2016)

In 2016, Salem’s residents, businesses, and organizations contributed approximately 4.2 million metric tons of CO2e through consumption-based emissions. This highlights the significant impact of individual choices and behaviors on global emissions.

The largest sources of emissions were:

1. Vehicles and Parts (29 percent): Emissions from the production, purchase, and use of vehicles.
2. Food and Beverages (22 percent): Emissions from the production, transportation, and disposal of food and drinks.

Moving Forward

By tracking greenhouse gas emissions through both sector-based and consumption-based inventories, Salem can better understand its environmental impact. These reports help the City set goals, measure progress, and take meaningful action to reduce emissions and combat climate change.