Background

Greenhouse Gas (GHG) inventories offer valuable insights into the emissions and removals of GHG from various sources and sinks in the different sectors of the economy. Once this information is gathered, it becomes possible to identify suitable mitigation actions or policies, develop baseline scenarios, and formulate projections. Furthermore, countries that are parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and also the Paris Agreement must regularly submit their GHG inventories. From 2024 onwards, countries have to submit the Biennial Transparency Report (BTR) and one of the mandatory elements is the national inventory report, including the national GHG inventory document (NID) and common reporting tables.

For preparing and reporting national GHG inventories for the BTR, countries must use the 2006 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) 2006 guidelines and the adopted common reporting tables (CRT), as prescribed by the relevant CMA decisions (dec. 18/CMA.1, 5/CMA.3). Having adequate knowledge of the 2006 IPCC Guidelines is crucial for countries to ensure the quality of GHG inventories and meet the TACCC principles (i.e. transparency, accuracy, completeness, consistency and comparability). Furthermore, to improve GHG inventories over time, countries need to have a deep understanding of the importance of various components involved in the preparation and management of a GHG inventory, such as data collection and management (e.g. archiving), quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC), verification, key category analysis, recalculation and uncertainty assessment, and improvement planning.

Exploring the 2006 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories is essential in the Energy, IPPU, Agriculture, FOLU and Waste Sectors, providing a comprehensive roadmap for effective GHG emission and removal reporting measures. The 2006 IPCC guidelines cover all major sources and sinks of GHGs, providing guidance on data collection, emission/removal estimation, uncertainty assessment, and reporting requirements. This comprehensive coverage ensures that countries consider all relevant factors in their inventory preparation, leading to more accurate and comprehensive assessments of their emissions profile. The 2006 IPCC guidelines for national GHG inventories offer policymakers useful insights, allowing them to evaluate the efficacy of current climate policies, pinpoint areas that require immediate attention, and monitor advancements towards emission reduction goals. Precise and dependable inventories are crucial for formulating evidence-based policies that promote sustainable development and climate resilience.

The TACCC principles are fundamental guidelines for the preparation of national greenhouse gas inventories, ensuring robustness, comparability, and transparency in reporting emissions data. The TACCC principles stand for Transparency, Accuracy, Consistency, Completeness, and Comparability. Transparency requires clear documentation of methodologies, data sources, and assumptions to foster understanding and trust among stakeholders. Accuracy emphasizes the use of reliable data, emission factors, and estimation techniques to minimize errors and uncertainties. Consistency ensures that inventories are prepared using consistent methodologies and data sources over time, facilitating meaningful comparisons of emission trends. Completeness mandates the inclusion of all relevant emission sources and sinks within a country's boundaries, providing a comprehensive assessment of total GHG emissions. Comparability aims to standardize reporting formats, methodologies, and data quality assurance procedures to enable fair comparisons of emissions between countries or regions. Training will focus on adhering to these principles enhances the credibility and utility of GHG inventories, supporting informed decision-making and international collaboration in addressing climate change.

Energy sector plays a pivotal role in national greenhouse gas (GHG) inventories, encompassing emissions from fossil fuel combustion (e.g., electricity generation, industry, transport),  and other energy-related activities (e.g., oil and gas production, coal mining, etc.). Accurate data collection and robust methodologies are essential to capture emissions across the energy value chain, including direct emissions from stationary and mobile sources as well as indirect emissions from energy consumption. Participants will delve into methodologies, principles, and reporting requirements, gaining insights to contribute meaningfully to the accurate measurement and reporting of greenhouse gas emissions and removals. 

Industrial processes and product use (IPPU) emissions are a crucial component that needs to be reported in national greenhouse gas inventories. These emissions arise from various industrial activities such as chemical production, cement manufacturing, and metal processing, as well as from the use of products such as refrigerants and insulating foams. The quantification of these emissions is essential for understanding the overall impact of industrial processes on climate change and for developing effective mitigation strategies. Including industrial processes and product use emissions in national greenhouse gas inventories provides policymakers with valuable data to make informed decisions on reducing emissions and transitioning towards more sustainable industrial practices.

Agriculture is a complex sector with emissions arising from enteric fermentation, manure management, agricultural soils, rice cultivation, and biomass burning from cropland. The enhanced transparency framework emphasizes accurate measurement and reporting of agricultural emissions, including through sustainable practices. Robust collection of activity data and emission factor selection are crucial for assessing the sector's contribution to overall GHG emissions.

Forestry and Other Land Use (FOLU) are integral to GHG inventories due to their role in carbon sequestration (i.e. in biomass and soil) and emissions from deforestation, afforestation, and forest management practices. The enhanced transparency framework emphasizes reporting on forest carbon stocks, land-use changes, and emissions/removals from forestry activities. Comprehensive monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV) systems are essential to track changes in forest carbon stocks accurately.

The Waste sector encompasses emissions from solid waste disposal (i.e., landfill), wastewater treatment, and biological treatment (e.g., composting, anaerobic digestion at biogas facilities), incineration and open burning. Meeting enhanced transparency requirements involves accurate accounting of waste generation, disposal practices, and methane capture/utilization. Reporting on waste management strategies, recycling efforts, and emissions reduction measures is critical for assessing the sector's environmental impact and contributing to circular economy goals.

Dive into the intricacies of the 2006 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventory tailored for all sectors in this dedicated training workshop. Unveiling the compass for precise measurement and reporting of greenhouse gas emissions, participants will explore core principles, methodologies, and reporting intricacies outlined in these guidelines. Originating from the IPCC, these guidelines serve as an essential resource for nations navigating the assessment and reporting of greenhouse gas inventories in all sectors. This workshop aims to demystify key aspects, including inventory planning, data collection, and reporting practices, empowering participants to actively contribute to national and global efforts addressing climate change within the Energy, IPPU, Agriculture, FOLU and Waste Sectors.

Objectives and purpose of the training

The primary objectives of this training workshop are to provide participants with a comprehensive understanding of the 2006 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventory in all Sectors. Participants will explore the fundamental principles, methodologies, and reporting requirements outlined in these guidelines, with a specific focus on their practical application.

The workshop aims to equip participants with the knowledge and insights necessary to actively contribute to accurate measurement and reporting of greenhouse gas emissions, fostering a deeper understanding of sustainability practices in these critical sectors.

Specific objectives:

• Equip participants with a deeper understanding of the IPCC 2006 guidelines for GHG inventory across five sectors.
• Familiarize participants with the Biennial Transparency Report requirements under the Paris Agreement and its Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF).
• Guide participants in developing a comprehensive national inventory document and offer practical training on how to effectively employ the common reporting table for reporting.
• Exchange experiences and lessons learned, corresponding to the application of IPCC and UNFCCC tools and systems for reporting inventory data with ETF provisions.