The GCoM CRF accommodates a variety of circumstances, capacities, and needs across cities and local governments of all shapes, sizes, and regions, including but not limited to:

• (i) the use of different methodologies under the IPCC framework or as prescribed by national regulations or practices;
• (ii) varied access to quality data;
• (iii) different levels of capacity and available resources; and 
• (iv) differentiated relevance of recommended elements of the framework in different geographical locations. 

The CRF was built upon already existing and broadly used frameworks for acting and reporting on climate change at the local level such as unifying city-adapted criteria like those included in the Global Protocol for Community-Scale GHG emissions (GPC), as well as, the former Compact of Mayors and Covenant of Mayors initiatives – merging common elements that can serve the efforts of GCoM-committed local governments around the globe in achieving their climate change related objectives. The CRF does not prescribe specific methodologies or standards.