COM/ENV/EPOC/IEA/SLT(2020)3
29
CRTs fulfils the assessment related to providing a common format for reporting. To reflect ongoing discussions and to fully represent Parties’ views, this paper discusses views advanced by some Parties that relate to options of using a set of common reporting tables developed by SBSTA, but allowing to submit to the UNFCCC tables that might not be considered as common, e.g. via the deletion of rows and columns. This approach, nevertheless, hinders transparency and consistency of reporting.
Defining a common set of CRTs: Sectoral background data tables and tables for indirect GHGs An open question relates to whether all the 48 CRF tables currently in use by Annex I Parties are to be considered when developing CRTs. A minority of Parties is of the view that only high-level summary tables (e.g. summary tables and sectoral report tables) are to be mandatory for the reporting of national GHG inventories by developing country Parties. Further, some developing country Parties feel that sectoral background data tables are not to be mandatory for them, arguing that completion of sectoral background data tables constitutes a burden for developing country Parties, due to their limited reporting capacity. Arguably, the information to be included in sectoral background data tables is necessary to the estimation of national GHG emissions following the IPCC guidelines, and would therefore be available to any Party that is preparing its national GHG inventory, regardless of the format. Paragraph 40 of the MPGs also stipulates that “Each Party shall provide information on the category and gas, and the methodologies, emission factors and activity data used at the most disaggregated level, to the extent possible […]” (Annex to decision 18/CMA.1, Section II, §40) (UNFCCC, 2019[2]). The level of detail of the information that Parties are to include in their background tables depends on Parties’ capacity, and on the IPCC methodologies’ approach adopted. In particular, according to the IPCC 2006 Guidelines, the higher the Tier methods adopted to estimate emissions of a given category, the more background data is needed. For example, to report on manure management CH4 emissions from dairy cattle using Tier 1, a Party is likely to need only background data information on population size and temperature or climate zone data. If a Party wishes to use higher Tiers, it might need background data information on manure characteristics as, e.g. volatile solids daily excretion (IPCC, 2006). Scenario 1 explores two worked examples to illustrate this point (see page 46). In light of these considerations, it would be useful for all Parties to complete as appropriate and include in the common set of CRTs sectoral background data tables. Ensuring that all Parties work with and submit a complete set of reporting tables would be consistent with the mandate of developing a common format for reporting, and would enhance consistency and comparability of reporting across Parties. Furthermore, the provision of background sectoral data would enhance transparency, accuracy and completeness of reporting. One Party group mentions in its submissions that tables for indirect GHGs are not to be mandatory for all Parties. In the current CRFs, there are no tables that allow Parties to report exclusively on indirect GHGs. Rather, the reporting of indirect gases takes place as part of these tables in which direct GHGs are reported. Furthermore, reporting of indirect GHGs is already not mandatory, as according to paragraph 52 of the MPGs, Parties “may” report indirect CO2, and indirect GHGs are not included in national totals (Annex to decision 18/CMA.1, Section II, §52) (UNFCCC, 2019[2]).21 Therefore, a Party not reporting indirect GHGs can currently simply use the notation key “NE” (not estimated) and provide explanations (either in the NIR and/or in Table 9 of the current CRFs) of why these emissions have not been estimated. The same approach could be used under the ETF and within CRTs.
21
In particular, paragraph 52 of the MPGs further states that “for Parties that decide to report indirect CO 2, the national totals shall be presented with and without indirect CO2 (UNFCCC, 2019[2]).
REPORTING NATIONAL GHG INVENTORIES THROUGH COMMON REPORTING TABLES (CRTS) Unclassified
