Abstract: This paper analyzes and elaborates the developing course of California’s greenhouse gas inventory, the defining principles of inventory boundary, estimation methods, the sources of activity data and emission factors, inventory reporting format used in the inventory, and the latest mandatory greenhouse gas reporting system. Based on the status quo and difficulties of Chinese provincial greenhouse gas inventory, several suggestions are put forward, such as determining how to deal with the emission of imported electricity as soon as possible, improving the base of statistical data, mapping national economy sectors to IPCC codes, and studying the direct reporting system of greenhouse gases of key emission sources.

Key words: California, greenhouse gas inventory, estimation method