Multiple components in GHG stock of transport sector: Technical improvements for SECAP Baseline Emissions Inventory assessment

The issue of the greenhouse gas emission is one of the main targets for the Covenant of Mayors initiative within the structure of the Sustainable Energy and Action Plans (SECAP). The computation of CO2 emissions for SECAP transport sector was tackled in practice through several methods producing not comparable results and even not reliable scenarios. Considering SECAP as a voluntary planning tool suitable for the management of ecological transition in small municipalities, in this work a computational proposal for transport sector emissions is proposed. The methodological proposal represents an operative guideline, providing accurate results based on easy-accessible data customized for the small Municipalities (i.e. with a resident population under 10.000 inhabitants). Such approach is characterized by the analysis of two components of emissions stock: a fixed one connected with the vehicles' fleet of resident population; a variable one depending on the tourism flows generated by specific environmental/cultural attractors. The case study of Castelsaraceno Municipality (Italy) is discussed highlighting the robustness of the proposed approach compared with existing Municipal energy plan evidences and additional checks based on unconventional information sources.