Compilation & Review

Aether provides highly experienced experts for emissions inventory review panels

Successful national and international action requires transparent and trusted evidence. Such evidence builds confidence, informs negotiations and accelerates efficient and effective action. This evidence can be enhanced using independent review, analysis or assessment activities involving experienced experts. Aether has represented customers in the development and execution of a number of high profile review processes related to greenhouse gas and air pollutant estimation and reporting. 

Aether has provided reviewers for:

  • annual greenhouse gas inventories under the UNFCCC and its Kyoto Protocol
  • the greenhouse gas inventories under the European Effort Sharing Decision
  • climate mitigation policies and measures and projections reported by EU Member States under the Monitoring Mechanism Regulation/Governance Regulation of the Energy Union
  • GHG emissions and policies and measures reported by Annex I Parties in their National Communications and Biennial Reports
  • GHG emissions and policies and measures reported by non-Annex I Parties in their Biennial Update Reports
  • air pollutants under the CLRTAP convention
  • air pollution mitigation policies and measures and projections reported by EU Member States in their National Air Pollution Control Programmes (NAPCPs)

Aether provides sector experts covering all sectors (Energy, Industrial Processes and Product Use, Agriculture, LULUCF and Waste) and lead reviewers for these panels. Aether is also able to support governments in responding to analysis, assessment and review panel questions. The sections below describe various examples of this review work.

UNFCCC and Kyoto Protocol annual inventory reviews

The review of GHG inventories comprises a thorough technical assessment of the inventory and its conformity with the IPCC compilation guidelines and UNFCCC reporting Guidelines. International teams of sectoral inventory experts examine the data, methodologies and procedures used in preparing and reporting the national inventory data. Aether has a team of qualified reviewers able to support and lead expert teams in the review of greenhouse gas inventories.

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NECD reviews

Aether has provided technical reviewers to assess the national air pollutant emissions inventories reported by EU Member States under the National Emissions Ceiling Directive (NECD) since its inception in 2017. Our team of sector experts regularly participate as reviewers to assess the quality of the methodologies and data used for the national inventories. The emissions estimates are used to demonstrate compliance with their emissions reductions commitments under the NECD, so need to be robust, as well as for providing the evidence base for mitigation policies. Aether also provides secretariat support for the NECD review through our work in the EEA European Topic Centres.

Effort Sharing Decision Reviews

Aether has provided key development and technical expertise to the European Commission for the 2012, 2015 and 2016 Effort Sharing Decision reviews. The Effort Sharing Decision establishes binding annual greenhouse gas emission targets for Member States for the period 2013 - 2020 and covers emissions from sectors not included in the EU Emission Trading Scheme, such as transport, buildings, agriculture and waste. Aether staff have supported the European Environment Agency and the European Commission in the design of the ESD review processes and tools and for ensuring the active participation of a team of experienced experts.

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CLRTAP Reviews

Since 2009, Aether has provided lead and technical reviewers to assess the submissions of a number of air quality inventories submitted under the Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution (LRTAP) Convention. The technical review process for air quality inventories follows a similar procedure as for greenhouse gas inventories in that there are three progressively more detailed stages of review. The reviews check and assess Parties' data submissions with a view to improving the quality of emissions data and associated information reported to the Convention.

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Bilateral reviews - knowledge sharing and capacity building

Aether provides core organisational and expert services to facilitate customer bilateral and multilateral reviews of enissions inventories. These reviews include data analysis and assessments, knowledge sharing and capacity building activities.

Aether has a broad range of experienced experts skilled in capacity building and knowledge sharing. These experts support the European Commission, UNDP and other organisations in delivering focussed and progressive programmes of capacity building including the development of organisational and institutional systems for sustainable data gathering, analysis and reporting of data on greenhouse gases and air pollutants. Much of this work is focussed on supporting countries in meeting the Paris Agreement commitments, particularly on transparency and in developing sustainable MRV systems for Nationally Determined Contributions.

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Case studies

GHG inventory support for Estonia

Aether is supporting the Estonian Environmental Research Centre (EKUK) and Estonian Environment Agency (EstEA) in the development of its national greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions inventory templates. We are helping to ensure that the compilation process is transparent and efficient.

LULUCF GHG Inventory Support for Romania

Aether is supporting the Romanian National Research and Development Institute for Cryogenic and Isotopic Technologies (ICSI) in the compilation of its national greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions inventory for non-forest land areas. We are helping to ensure that Romania’s land use, land use change and forestry (LULUCF) inventory is robust and of high quality.

Rwanda: Review of GHG inventory, mitigation assessments and national reports

Emma Salisbury was contracted as an international expert to support Rwanda’s Greenhouse Gas (GHG) reporting to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

Support to the European Environment Agency

Aether has been providing support to the European Environment Agency through their European Topic Centres since 2014, focussing on air pollution, industrial pollution and climate change mitigation.

Review of inventories submitted under the National Emission Ceilings Directive

Aether has been involved in reviewing national emission inventories for more than 20 years, and provides several staff for key roles in the NEC Directive reviews.

2019 Refinement to the 2006 IPCC Guidelines

Justin Goodwin, Director at Aether, worked as part of a multi-national team on the 2019 Refinement of the 2006 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories.

Emission Inventory Support for Environment Agency of Iceland

Aether is supporting the Environment Agency of Iceland in the compilation of its greenhouse gas and air quality emissions inventories as well as projections and policies and measures. We are helping to ensure that Iceland’s inventory is robust and of high quality.

Colombia GHG inventory review - IPPU and energy

On the road towards submitting its third national communication, Colombia wanted to make sure that they had a high quality national GHG inventory.

Testimonials

Don't just take our word for it...

“Professional team and very collaborative communication. Effective result in terms of suggestions for improvement in the quality of the inventory and proposals on how to streamline specific topics.”

Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research

“Both the face-to-face training and the online version have been of high quality, with dynamic methods and a practical orientation that have allowed students to reach a solid knowledge base. The products have been delivered within the stipulated deadlines with an excellent quality and the team has always shown willingness to make adjustments according to the requirements of CONAF. We are very satisfied with the work. ”

Javier Cano Martín, Professional Unit for Climate Change and Environmental Services, CONAF (National Forestry Corporation), Chile

“Aether's approach to couple innovative visualisation with high expertise manpower delivered valuable insights for our inventory work.”

Umweltbundesamt (Germany)

“Saint Lucia embraces the professional approach with which this project was undertaken by Aether, particularly their ability to develop mentorship relations with local government experts. This provides a basis for ensuring that the pool of local experts remain engaged and recognized over successive processes.”

Annette Rattigan-Leo, Chief Sustainable Development and Environment Officer

“I must congratulate each of you for your professional and tireless efforts. Let me point out that this has been the 'neatest' in-country review expert review team I have coordinated, and it has been a real pleasure.”

UNFCCC Secretariat

“The Aether team were a joy to work with and I would recommend the consultancy - the service provided throughout the process was exceptional. Where there were problems, they provided solutions. The team were working to very short time scales but were able to deliver a high quality piece of work within the specified time frame.”

Sefton Council - for the Merseyside Atmospheric Emissions Inventory

“It is always an absolute pleasure working with Aether. I always know what is expected of me. Their work ethic is of a very high standard and projects are always handled in a very professional manner. I have learnt many skills in terms of project management, quality control and workshop training styles from Aether and I hope to carry these principles forward in my own work. I look forward to collaborating with Aether more in the future.”

Luanne Stevens, Gondwana

“A heartfelt thank you to all the Aether team for this very comprehensive review – this is certainly turning out to be one of the most beneficial capacity building projects I have ever been involved in.”

Saviour Vassallo, Senior Environment Protection Officer, Malta Resources Authority

“The support provided by Aether for this project was especially remarkable considering the situation of the COVID-19 pandemic. The tools and methods used in order to engage local stakeholders really added value to the capacity building of the national team.”

Shanna Emmanuel, Saint Lucia BUR Project Coordinator

“The Aether team were a joy to work with and I would recommend the consultancy - the service provided throughout the process was exceptional.”

Clare Bayley, Defra

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