Monitoring greenhouse gas emission

UK’s report for monitoring community greenhouse gas emission and implementing the KYOTO protocol

Defra has been appointed as the Single National Entity for the UK to submit a report on a mechanism for monitoring Community greenhouse gas emissions and for implementing the Kyoto Protocol. Within Defra, the Global Atmosphere (GA) Division administers this responsibility. GA coordinates expertise from across Government and manages research contracts to ensure that the UK Greenhouse Gas Inventory meets international standards. GA is responsible for managing 2 main research contracts that underpin the preparation and development of the national inventory

1- National Environmental Technology Centre (Netcen) part of AEA Technology plc. Netcen is responsible for all aspects of national inventory preparation, reporting and quality management. Activities include: collecting and processing data from a wide range of sources; selecting appropriate emission factors and estimation methods according to IPCC guidance; compiling the inventory; applying QA/QC; carrying out uncertainty assessments; delivering the National Inventory Report (NIR) and the Common Reporting Format CRF tables.

2- Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (CEH), responsible for preparation and development of the LULUCF inventory, covering both emissions and removals.

Another division in Defra, Natural Resources and Rural Affairs (NRRA), manages a research contract that feeds into the main inventory and this is currently with:
• Institute for Grassland and Environmental Research (IGER), responsible for the preparation and development of the agricultural inventory.

The UK has evolved a system of data collection that has relied upon legislation set up for other purposes. Recognising the fact that such a system of data collection might not meet the standards required under the Kyoto Protocol, the UK has introduced new legislation specifically for national inventory purposes which took effect from November 2005 1. This legislation makes provision for Defra’s Secretary of State to issue a notice in the event that information required for the inventory that has been sought voluntarily is unforthcoming. This legislation is intended as a last resort once all other avenues to elicit the required data, in the format and to the timing specified have failed. The legislation includes penalties for failure to comply, and authority for entry to premises to obtain information required or verify information provided.

Each year, the following activities are carried out:

i. Data collection and processing
Requests for activity data and background data are issued to a wide range of data suppliers. Each request is issued with a unique code, and a database is used to track the request and the data supplied from that request. Activity data received are examined and anomalies are investigated, such as time series discrepancies, or large changes in values from the previous to the current inventory year.

ii. Method and emission factor selection
The methods used to estimate emissions are described in detail within the National Inventory Report (NIR) submitted to the EUMM and UNFCCC annually. The direct and indirect GHGs reported are estimated using methodologies corresponding mostly to the detailed sectoral Tier 2/3 methods in the IPCC Guidelines.

iii. Preparation of emission estimates
Emission estimates of direct and indirect GHGs are prepared using the general formula:
Emission = Activity data X Emission factor

iv. Uncertainty assessment
Estimates of uncertainties are prepared according to both the Tier 1 and Tier 2 procedures described by the IPCC. The Tier 1 approach provides estimates of uncertainties by pollutant according to IPCC sector. The Tier 2 approach provides estimates according to GHG (1990, base year and latest reporting year) and has now been extended to provide emissions by IPCC sector.

v. Key source categories
Key sources are defined as the sources of emissions that have a significant influence on the inventory as a whole, in terms of the absolute level of the emissions, the trend, or both. A ranking exercise is performed according to IPCC Tier 1 Level analysis and Trend analysis to identify key source categories.

vi. Recalculations
Where an improvement to a methodology or data source is identified and has a substantial impact on the estimates, the historic emissions are recalculated in order that a consistent time-series of emission estimates is presented within the inventory.

vii. Reporting
Estimates of emissions are prepared for the various reporting formats (e.g. IPCC, UNECE etc.). Draft reports are written to satisfy the reporting criteria of the various agency.

viii. Review
A series of internal reviews within Netcen are carried out to detect any anomalies in the estimates (time series variations and year to year changes) which are then rectified. In 2002, the UK implemented a programme of external peer review for key source categories. To date, two peer reviews have been completed – CO2 from fuel combustion and emissions from agriculture.

ix. Website

All inventory information including the published National Inventory Report (NIR) and Common Reporting Format (CRF) tables is collected in one place on the UK national system website available at: www.ghgi.org.uk



1 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme (Amendment) and National Emissions Inventory Regulations 2005, available at: http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2005/20052903.htm