Calculation of life cycle-based emission factors for administrative services: A replicable framework for climate action in the public sector

Municipal services are rarely evaluated systematically for their environmental impacts. This study introduces an innovative life-cycle-based methodology for calculating emission factors for 21 municipal services, thereby filling a critical gap in public-sector impact assessment. Services are classified into administrative office services (e.g., identity card issuance, residence changes, marriage licenses) and macro-services (e.g., school canteen management, green maintenance, bulky waste collection). While administrative office services are often considered intangible and underestimated in environmental terms, both types require significant resources and generate measurable impacts. The methodology quantifies Carbon Footprints (CFs) of municipal services, producing emission factors per functional unit. Unlike previous fragmented assessments focused on specific sectors or public activities, this study applies a unified, systems-based framework. The results are consolidated into a structured database made of standardized emission factors (EFs), which serve as proxies when site-specific data are unavailable and facilitate replication across different institutions and geographic contexts. Applied in the Municipality of Grosseto (Italy), results show that macro-services account for 78.55 % of total emissions (particularly from school canteens and green maintenance), while site inspections and document processing are the most impactful administrative functions. The approach helps local authorities identify emission hotspots and align services with strategic planning tools such as Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plans (SECAPs). By providing a flexible and transferable evaluation framework, this study advances environmental accounting practices in the public sector and supports evidence-based climate strategies with broader policy relevance. © 2025 The Authors