CHARACTERISTICS

Inventorying, tracking and reporting GHG emissions are critical steps in developing emissions mitigation programs and obtaining credit for reduction activities under international compliance requirements being developed within the Framework Convention on Climate Change (FCCC). Emissions reporting programs address two information needs:
(1) They identify the sources and levels of historic GHG emissions so that major emitters can be identified and the most cost-effective mitigation program can be defined.
(2) They facilitate the tracking of current emission levels to ensure that a) national/international GHG reduction requirements are achieved, and b) credit for over/under compliance is documented for reconciliation of joint implementation and emission trading exchanges.

Continuous emissions monitoring (CEM) equipment can be used on point sources (e.g., utility smokestacks) to monitor, measure and report emissions on a regular basis. Since 1995, CEMs have been required on all U.S. coal-fired powerplants. These systems electronically report the level of SO₂ emissions from each plant to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for purposes of comparing permitted versus actual SO₂ emissions. CEM technology can be used to monitor and report all air pollutant and GHG emissions.

Creating a credible and flexible emissions reporting system for GHG emissions is not straightforward. Several options exist–however, only a few may be endorsed by the FCCC (or its designated reporting/enforcement body).

SIZE:
N/A

FEATURES:
Emissions reporting programs consist of emissions monitoring using approved measurement techniques and reporting procedures. They must provide certainty that the data represents an accurate baseline of GHG emissions and clearly defined procedures for measuring and reporting emissions reductions from the baseline.

COST:
The cost of implementing emissions reporting programs should be small in comparison to electric utility operating and compliance costs. In some instances, international financial support might be available.

CURRENT USAGE:
Several countries–primarily those designated as Annex I within the FCCC, have been experimenting with alternative emissions reporting programs.

POTENTIAL USAGE:
Eventually, all countries that are signatories to the FCCC and any subsequent protocols will be required to have approved emissions reporting programs.

ISSUES ASSOCIATED WITH IMPLEMENTING ACTION

• Acceptable, consistent and equitable emissions monitoring systems are still being developed.
• There will be expenses associated with monitoring and reporting of GHG emissions that some countries will not be willing to incur until they have become signatories to the FCCC and any subsequent protocol.

CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACT

EMISSION EFFECT:
    

CONDITIONS FOR EMISSIONS MITIGATION:

• Environmental improvement will depend upon the accuracy of estimating baseline emissions and the actual reductions from the baseline.

EMISSION ESTIMATE:
N/A

COST-EFFECTIVENESS:
N/A

SECONDARY EFFECTS:
N/A

RESOURCES

• Guidelines: Programme for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories, have been developed by the IPCC/OECD/IEA for inventorying and reporting GHG emissions. They can be found on the worldwide web at: http://www.iea.org/ipcc.htm.
• The United States Initiative on Joint Implementation (USIJI) developed a Resource Document on Project & Proposal Development under the U.S. Initiative on Joint Implementation.
• The World Bank, Switzerland, and other bilateral donors (e.g., Finland) provide co-financing to host countries to analyze inventories, offsets, and other issues in a National AIJ/JI Strategy Study.
• The United States Country Studies Program (USCSP) provides funding and technical assistance to countries to monitor emissions and prepare national action plans.
• The United Nations Environment Programme has developed a Workbook on Reporting Instructions.

CONTACTS

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
c/o World Meteorological Organization
Geneva, Switzerland
http://www.ipcc.ch

International Energy Agency
Paris, France
Tel: 33-1 40 57 65 54
Fax: 33-1 40 57 65 59
http://www.iea.org

United Nations Environment Program
Geneva, Switzerland
http://www.unep.ch

U.S. Country Studies Program
Christopher Bordeaux
Washington, DC
Tel: (202)-586-3288
Fax: (202)-586-3485
http://www.gcrio.org/CSP/uscsp.html

U.S. Initiative on Joint Implementation
Washington, DC
Tel: (202) 586-3070
Fax: (202) 586-3485

World Bank
National Energy Study
Washington, DC
http://www.worldbank.org/cc/nssp.html