Setting up a Sustainable National GHG Inventory System Victoria Thompson ICF International in support of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency UNFCCC Kick-Off Workshop March 8, 2011 1
National Inventory Systems What is a National Inventory System? Introduction to the National Systems Templates Brief Discussion of Each Template 2
National Inventory Systems A national inventory system incorporates all the elements necessary to estimate GHG emissions and sinks. A central coordination agency Arrangements between agency and institutions Identification of technical experts Procedures for inventory development 3
National Inventory Systems Challenges for Establishing National Inventory Systems and Inventory Compilation in NA-I Countries Small teams with limited resources and multiple responsibilities Incomplete or non-existent activity data Lack of countryspecific emission factors Insufficient documentation from previous inventories Difficulty retaining expertise 4
National Inventory Systems What if there was a tool? Templates to fill out A helpful starting point A gift to you and future inventory teams! 5
Tools: Template Workbook and ALU \ We have taken key elements of the IPCC and UNFCCC guidance and condensed them into an easy-to-use National Template Workbook 6
Chapter Introduction 4: Archiving to the National SystemInventory Templates Template Workbook = Organization = System Compare to a filing system: Gathers key information in one place Well-organized Can find what you need next time We need a system! 7
Introduction to the National Inventory Templates The 6 Templates Institutional Arrangements Source-by-Source Background Document Description of QA/QC Procedures Description of Archiving System Key Category Analysis National Inventory Improvement Plan 8
Introduction to the National Inventory Templates Completed Workbooks for Developing a Sustainable National GHG Inventory System Institutional Arrangements Source by Source Background QA/QC Procedures Archiving System Key Category Analysis National Inventory Improvement Plan 9
Introduction to the National Inventory Templates [Country s] National Greenhouse Gas Inventory System Report 10
Chapter 1 Institutional Arrangements 11
Chapter 1: Institutional Arrangements How this Template Will Help! In this template: All parties, roles and arrangements by sector Contacts and sources of activity data Evaluate arrangements and proposed improvements Plan the inventory schedule Helps current and future inventory teams : Know who is responsible for each sector/source Know key contacts for data Identify where coordination gaps exist Assess how existing arrangements can be improved Communicate arrangements to UN Get new team members up-to-speed Make coordinating future inventories easier! Ensure long-term continuity 12
National Inventory Systems Coordination of Inventory Data 13
Chapter 1: Institutional Arrangements Identify the inventory agency and management team Describe the roles and arrangements for each sector Identify needed improvements Lay out the inventory schedule 14
Chapter 1: Institutional Arrangements Submit to UN, Prepare National Inventory Improvement Plan Inventory Kick-off Meeting Gather inventory team, define roles, establish schedule and process, identify priorities Finalize Inventory Draft, Key Category Analysis and Prepare Archives Choose Methods and Identify Activity Data Availability Method depends on data Address Errors and Comments from Review National Inventory Schedule Collect Data and Emissions Factors Gather and incorporate into inventory tools Inventory team, outside experts QA/QC of Draft Report Prepare Initial Estimates Use tools to estimate emissions Describes sources, data and emissions factors used, methods Prepare Draft Report Prepare Key Source Analysis Key Category tool can help determine most important sources of emissions 15
Chapter 2 Source-by-Source Background Document 16
Chapter 2: Source-by-Source Background Document How this Template Will Help! In this template: Activity data and emission factors How data were obtained Methods used to estimate emissions Helps current and future inventory teams: Provides key information to communicate to UNFCCC. Understand how estimates were developed Make it easier to do again! 17
Chapter 2: Source-by-Source Background Document Source Description Source Description Choice of Method Activity Data Emission Factor Additional Comments 18
Chapter 2: Source-by-Source Background Document Can be imported directly into the National Communication Report 19
Chapter 2: Source-by-Source Background Document The Source-by-Source Template can facilitate peer review 20
Chapter 3 QA/QC Procedures 21
Chapter 3: QA/QC Procedures How this Template Will Help! In this template: Guidance to create customized QA/QC procedures Identify existing QA/QC procedures Define responsibilities Establish QC procedures Establish QA procedures Develop schedule for QA/QC plan Helps the inventory team: Identify QA/QC roles and responsibilities Find calculation errors Be confident in their inventory. Enhance National Communication report Establish a QA/QC program to build upon 22
Chapter 3: QA/QC Procedures Examples of QA/QC Procedures 23
Chapter 4 Archiving System 24
Chapter 4: Archiving System How this Template Will Help! In this template: Guidance to develop an archiving system Document past and current archiving systems How to improve the existing system Help the inventory team: Access previous records Easily reproduce estimates Ensure credibility Respond to inquiries More easily review estimates Safeguard against loss 25
Chapter 4: Archiving System Compile electronic versions of spreadsheets used to estimate emissions by sector (create draft estimates, under review, and final versions folders to track progress and changes). 26
Chapter 5 Key Category Analysis 27
Chapter 5: Key Category Analysis How this Tool and Template Will Help! In this tool and template: Identify all key source categories of GHG emissions Rank emissions sources Describe how you completed the key category analysis (KCA) Help the inventory team: Conduct a KCA Identify the most important GHG sources Communicate key sources to the UN Identify areas for improving estimates 28
Chapter 5: Key Category Analysis Key Category Analysis Tool All you need to do is enter CO 2 equivalents for each source category estimated. 29
Chapter 5: Key Category Analysis Key Category Analysis Tool The tool automatically runs the analysis for you! 30
Chapter 6 National Inventory Improvement Plan 31
Chapter 6: National Inventory Improvement Plan The NIIP is Created from Other Templates These are living documents, and should be updated through time. 32
Chapter 6: National Inventory Improvement Plan How this Template Will Help! In this template: Synthesize findings from other templates Identify and prioritize future areas of improvement Identify actions to address improvements Start thinking about implementation of improvement actions Help the inventory team: Prepare a National Inventory Improvement Plan Meet international benchmarks Make sure inventory meets needs Identify concrete improvements Propose projects for funding to improve emission estimation 33
Chapter 6: National Inventory Improvement Plan Objectives Key Source Categories Source Category Improvements Institutional Arrangements Prioritize Improvements Communication, Outreach, Training Potential Projects 34
Chapter 6: National Inventory Improvement Plan Inventory Improvement Areas Identifying availability of better quality data Facilitating coordination among institutions to support data collection efforts Adopting a higher Tier methodology Training of current staff members Hiring additional staff 35
Concluding Remarks Completed templates can be compiled into a National Inventory System Report [Country s] National Greenhouse Gas Inventory System Report 36
Concluding Remarks However, The templates are probably only 25% of the work. 75% 25% Templates Establishing arrangements, procedures, identifying information, and implementing steps 37
Concluding Remarks Final Thoughts The inventory management template approach provides a foundation for establishing a national GHG inventory system Great organizing tool, but effort required Does not solve all problems, but helps continuity Create transparency, consistency, and comparability Helps create institutional memory Reduces future costs/effort Apply at provincial or national level 38
Thanks for your attention! Victoria Thompson vthompson@icfi.com +1.781.676.4010 U.S. EPA Inventory Preparation Tools www.epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/ghginventorycapacitybuilding 39