The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has specified five indicators of inventory quality: Valuable Assistance for Preparing National GHG Inventories Your GHG inventory team can take advantage of valuable funding, support, and technical resources to improve the quality of your national inventory. Transparency: Assumptions and methods are explained clearly so the inventory can be understood and replicated • Apply for financial support from the Global Environment Facility for preparing National Communications and Biennial Update Reports for submission to the UNFCCC Accuracy: Estimates reflect actual emissions and removals, with no systematic overestimation or underestimation Completeness: All existing, relevant sources, sinks, and gases across a country's full geographic area are included • Receive technical assistance on GHG inventory management, methods, and activity data collection from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Agency for Internationa! Development Consistency: The same methodologies and consistent data sets are used for the base and all subsequent years in estimating emissions and removals, so differences in results between years and categories reflect real differences in emissions • Participate in training from the UNFCCC Consultative Group of Experts (CGE) • Download Agriculture and Land Use (ALU) National GHG Inventory software for estimating emissions and removals from Agriculture and from Land Use. Land-Use Change, and Forestry, which is consistent with Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change guidelines Comparability: The methodologies used to develop estimates of emissions and removals, and how the inventory is reported, allow the inventory to be compared to those developed by other countries • Download the United Nations Development Programme National Communication Support Program handbook, Managing the National Greenhouse Gas Inventory Process National Greenhouse Gas Inventories A Foundation for Low Emission Development Learn more at www.epa.gov/climatechange/capacitybuilding 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. Washington, DC 20460 www.epa.gov Recycled/Recyclable Printed with Vegetable Oil Based Inks on Recycled Paper (Minimum 50% Postconsumer) ------- Activities Supported by National GHG Inventories Build a Solid Foundation for Low Emission Growth A greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory can be a valuable tool for developing policies and programs that address climate change and economic development. GHG inventories estimate emissions to and removals from the atmosphere over time. This information can help your country: • Understand national GHG emissions, removals, and trends • Identify cost-effective policies and programs to reduce emissions • Measure success in reducing emissions and enhancing removals • Provide input into economic assessments • Enhance management of natural resources such as forest stocks and food production • Fulfill United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) reporting requirements for Biennial Update Reports and National Communications But that's just the beginning! GHG inventories provide an analysis of the economic activities associated with emissions and removals, such as fossil fuel combustion, cement production, forest management, crop production, and livestock production. In addition, the process of collecting and analyzing the data needed to develop an inventory supports participation in climate change programs, advances economic development, informs investments, and helps with managing natural resources. Participate in International Climate Change Programs With a complete inventory, countries can: • Build technical expertise that can be applied to other climate change policies and programs • More easily access climate financing, such as funds available from the Global Environment Facility • Estimate and report forest-related carbon emissions and removals, which will help a country prepare for participation in REDD+, an international effort to create financial value for maintaining or increasing carbon stored from forests in developing countries • Inform Low Emission Development Strategies (LEDS) and Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMAs) to reduce emissions and promote economic growth Use Inventory Data and Analysis to Support Multiple Priorities Inventory data and emission estimates can help identify strategies for improving a country's economy and managing natural resources. In many countries, data relevant to preparing an inventory is collected for other purposes. If not, data collected for inventory purposes can be used to support economic development, natural resource management, and much more. For example: • Data on raw material production and energy consumption can be used to help industry improve processes and increase efficiency • GHG emission rates (e.g., emissions per unit of milk or meat production) can be compared to rates in other countries to identify and address inefficiencies in livestock management • Data on the size and types of forests in your country (and how they change over time) can be used to promote sustainable harvesting of timber for wood products, ensuring the long-term viability of the timber industry, while protecting watersheds and biodiversity and enhancing the tourism industry • Data on agricultural practices can be shared with land managers to create sustainable approaches to food production, agricultural development, and rural development National GHG inventories provide a foundation for sustainable development decisions and growth. A high-quality inventory can support a variety of areas of activities and programs related to natural resource management, climate change planning, and economic development, as illustrated in the figure below. Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMAs) Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) Forest management Food production Agricultural development Other climate finance mechanisms Low Emission Development Strategies (LEDS) Energy/ industrial efficiency International financing Land use planning ,rr»Wp! National Greenhouse Gas Inventory ------- |