Some of these include:

• Focusing attention: Helping achieve short and long-term climate-change goals by focusing attention on changes in emissions. 

• Demonstrating progress: Assisting in maintaining momentum of a program or initiative by demonstrating defensible progress towards a goal, especially in face of competing priorities.

• Improving processes: Making it possible to refine policies and programs for maximum impact by showing what works and what does not. 

• Emphasizing successes: Showcasing your progress through national awards programs and thereby increasing public support.

• Highlighting cumulative effects: Highlighting the cumulative impacts and power of many local governments working towards similar goals.