In December 1997, the Parties to the 1992 United Framework Convention on Climate Change adopted the Kyoto Protocol to limit emissions of six greenhouse gases (CO2, CH4, N2O, HFCs, PFCs and SF6). Canada committed to a target of 6 percent below its 1990 level of emissions. The Protocol outlines new monitoring and reporting requirements for Annex I parties, which explicitly link national reporting and review, to compliance assessment. These include the requirement for governments to have national systems for inventory preparation and to expand annual reports on inventories to include relevant supplemental information to ensure compliance.

The development of an emissions inventory is a labour-intensive procedure requiring a significant level of effort and commitment of time and resources. An emission inventory attempts to account for each gram of pollutant emitted from all emission sources. The methodology designed for collecting the required information must have a high potential for success. A carefully planned and well thought out strategy is necessary to ensure that the information gathered is appropriate to address the tasks for which the inventory was intended.

SENES is currently working with some of its clients to develop greenhouse gas credits for sale/trade under the Kyoto Agreement.