Evaluation of policies designed to reduce emissions of global warming
gases will require valid data about in-use quantities of these gases p
recursors. This article assesses the quality of available data for man
y significant precursors of CO2 and methane in King County, Washington
which is an area with minimal variations in climate as well as develo
pment. Available data support an estimate of 21,000,000 metric tons of
CO2-equivalent gases emitted in 1990 from selected precursors. There
is also evidence that electricity conservation programs and recycling
both reduce CO2 emissions. Requirements for adequate baseline data inc
lude constant and valid data definitions as well as monthly time serie
s. To evaluate policies over periods of years, databases must be desig
ned to withstand frequent and rapid changes in national economies; the
y must also permit analysis of consumer choices affecting fossil fuels
and other precursors of worming gases. in almost every case, current
data do not satisfy these requirements.