Emissions Inventory Lifecycle

At each stage in the emissions inventory lifecycle Aether can undertake key tasks, provide training and facilitate capacity building.

Planning & management

Governance structures and team members' roles and skills are reviewed in the early stages of inventory system development. Data supply agreements are specified and agreed to ensure high quality regular data inputs. 

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Stakeholder engagement

Meetings are held with interested parties to agree on delivery of inventory outputs and methodology improvements.  Stakeholder groups usually include Government departments, data suppliers and other data users such as air pollution modellers.

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Inventory compilation

Calculations are undertaken to update the annual inventory for historical years and for a new year of the timeseries. All calculations are subject to thorough quality checks and comparisons with previous datasets.

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Reporting

As well as reporting directly to government clients, the inventory data are often delivered to international organisations (UNFCCC, UNECE, EC) according to formal reporting requirements. Clear documentation of methodologies is provided alongside international submissions, specifying methods, assumptions and reasons for changes.

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Review

Each year Kyoto Protocol signatory countries have their greenhouse gas inventories reviewed by a panel of experts. Aether provides experts for these review panels and is also able to support Governments in responding to reviewer questions. A similar process is also in place to review air quality pollutant inventories.

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Projections

Estimates of the way emissions are expected to change in the future are also required under international agreements. This requires separate estimates of emissions under a ‘Business as usual’ scenario and of the impacts of new policy measures to reduce emissions.

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Related case studies

Driving emission reductions through the public sector supply chain: Scope 3 emissions

Aether contributed to the analysis of procurement (Scope 3) emissions reporting in the Scottish public sector. The research aimed to demonstrate approaches and tools available to Scottish public bodies. The aim was to understand and report their supply chain emissions, providing options for action to improve supply chain reporting across the public sector.

Runnymede Borough Council Climate Change Study

Aether, in partnership with Land Use Consultants (LUC), delivered a package of works to support Runnymede Borough Council’s (RBC) review of the 2030 Local Plan with a view to introducing stronger policies to address the impacts of climate change.

Ealing Council Climate Action Plan Multi-Criteria Analysis

Aether developed a multi-criteria analysis of Ealing Council’s Climate and Ecological Emergency Strategy (CEES) to support the Council with prioritisation and delivery of climate actions to reach their 2030 target of carbon neutrality.

Luton Council Net Zero Roadmap and Climate Policy and Action Plan

Aether, alongside SE2 and associate Joanne Wade, developed a Net Zero Roadmap and Climate Policy and Action Plan to support the council in its vision of a net zero town by 2040.

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.

Railfreight Energy and Emissions Calculator (REEC)

REEC is the first tool for the UK that can calculate, to a high level of granularity and accuracy, the energy usage and resulting emissions for a specified freight train configuration travelling on specified routes on the GB rail network.

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.

Montenegro's Third Biennial Update Report (BUR)

Justin Goodwin was contracted as an international expert to support Montenegro with writing the Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV) chapter for their third Biennial Update Report.

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).

Developing a comprehensive approach to nitrogen in the UK

Aether, alongside project partners the Stockholm Environment Institute, the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, and Plantlife International, undertook a study for WWF of the nitrogen cycles and pathways in the UK and reviewed existing strategies and policies that could affect the balance of nitrogen in the environment.

Devolved Administration Greenhouse Gas and Air Pollution Inventories

Aether is now leading on the compilation and reporting of greenhouse gas and air pollution inventories for England and the Devolved Administrations, as a part of the wider UK National Atmospheric Emissions Inventory programme.

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.

Capacity building in Liberia for GHG inventory compilation and MRV systems

Aether, in partnership with NEXUS International University (NIU) and the University of Liberia, provided capacity building training in GHG inventory compilation and MRV systems in Liberia.

EU Forest Reference Levels

Aether provided support to the European Commission and the LULUCF Expert Group in the technical assessment of EU Member State's National Forestry Accounting Plans.

Developing Saint Lucia’s GHG Inventory

Aether provided capacity building training to the national GHG inventory team of Saint Lucia. A new greenhouse gas inventory was developed together with a National Inventory Report and the inventory Biennial Update Report chapter.

Capacity building in Uganda for Paris Agreement Reporting

Aether, in partnership with Petromall and NEXUS International University (NIU), provided capacity building training in GHG inventory compilation in Uganda. We engaged with over 80 participants to provide interactive training courses in all inventory sectors.

Merton Council Climate Emergency Support

Aether and SE2 supported Merton Council in developing their action plan to meet targets to decarbonise the Council by 2030 and the borough of Merton by 2050

Lewisham Route to Neutral

Support to Lewisham Council to define the route to carbon neutral for the Borough

United Arab Emirates Air Quality Inventory

Aether, in partnership with the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), supported the Ministry of Climate Change and the Environment (MOCCAE) to compile the first UAE air pollutant emission inventory.

Residential Air Quality Assessment, Dartford

A case study of the Air Quality Assessments Aether delivers for residential developments, here for a proposed development in Dartford.

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.

Antigua and Barbuda Biennial Update Report (BUR)

Aether has been supporting Antigua and Barbuda on their first Biennial Update Report (BUR) by writing the Mitigation chapter. This work will enable Antigua and Barbuda to report transparently on initiatives addressing climate change mitigation and adaptation. Also the climate action database will enable the Department of Environment to take stock of climate related initiatives across the country, including the flow of climate finance, and relate this to national strategies and targets.

South Africa Climate Action Tracking and Evaluation System

Aether worked with Gondwana Environmental Solutions to support South Africa’s Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DEFF) to develop an innovative online platform for gathering, analysing and reporting climate mitigation and adaptation actions. The system acts as a central registry for climate actions alongside associated climate challenges, targets, support needed, wider impacts and indicators.

City of London Air Quality Data Visualisation

Aether developed an online, interactive data visualisation for the City of London that could be used by policy makers and the general public to explore data and information on air quality. Topics covered include air pollutant emissions, bus fleet emission control technologies and the health impacts of air pollution.

Surrey Air Quality for Schools Programme

Aether, in partnership with London Sustainability Exchange (LSx), Surrey Air Alliance and Surrey County Council, has helped to create and implement a Cleaner Air for Schools Programme in Surrey.

Electric vehicles from life cycle and circular economy perspectives

A report written for the European Environment Agency that used an extensive literature review to analyse and synthesis the environmental impacts of electric vehicles though life cycle and circular economy perspectives.

Montenegro Climate Change Action MRV System

In cooperation with UNDP through the GEF funded project “Development of Montenegro’s Second BUR”, Aether has been supporting Montenegro in developing a monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) system for its climate change mitigation and adaptation actions.

Tanzania GHG Inventory, Projections and National System (MRV Portal)

Aether worked with the Vice President’s Office of the United Republic of Tanzania to develop an historical and projected GHG inventory and a sustainable national inventory system. The project delivered a tailored version of our innovative MRV portal. It was guided by high levels of stakeholder consultation and provided training to Tanzanian experts at two workshops.

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.

Support to the States of Jersey on GHG emissions and climate action

Aether’s infographics and reports have encouraged engagement of the public in Jersey with climate change issues. We have supported the States of Jersey Department of the Environment for 3 years across a range of climate related topics.

Irish Environmental Protection Agency

Aether supports the Irish Environmental Protection Agency with the preparation and submission of Ireland's National Emissions Inventory of Greenhouse Gases under the EU Monitoring Mechanism and Air Quality Pollutants under the National Emissions Ceiling Directive.

Luxembourg Climate Action: Stakeholder engagement and reporting Portal

Aether developed an innovative online platform, or Portal, for gathering, analysing and reporting Luxembourg’s climate policies and measures. The Portal acts as a central point for stakeholder engagement and keeps a live master list of national climate actions, with associated impact and cost analysis.

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.

Oxford Sustainability Index

Aether was appointed to develop a Sustainability Index for Oxford, comparing the city’s performance with others.

North East Scotland sustainable energy action plan

Aether led the development of the North East Scotland Sustainable Energy Action Plan (SEAP) for Aberdeenshire, Aberdeen City, Angus and Moray.

Residential AQA, Westbourne Park in London

Aether was commissioned to undertake an air quality assessment, air quality neutral assessment and construction dust assessment for a proposed large residential development on Edenham Way in Westbourne Park in London.

Industrial air quality assessment

Aether was commissioned by Ballymore to undertake an air quality assessment for a proposed energy centre in phase 2 of the development at Royal Wharf in the London borough of Newham.

Air quality monitoring

Aether was commissioned by Berkeley Homes to undertake an air quality assessment for the proposed installation of gas fired boilers at 250 City Road.

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.

Barbados greenhouse gas emissions inventory

Aether worked with Engain to produce Barbados’ Second National Communications Report to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

GHG inventory and QA/QC assistance in South Africa

On the road towards establishing a sustainable GHG inventory, Aether assisted South Africa's Department of Environmental Affairs to establish a National System for regular GHG estimation, analysis and reporting.

Jamaica GHG inventory review

Aether has been working with the Jamaican Government to compile and improve their national greenhouse gas emissions inventory for their Third National Communication and Biennial Update Report.

Testimonials

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

“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

“It has been a pleasure to work with Chris Dore and Richard Claxton from Aether: they did their job in a very professional and timely manner. The workshop was organized and carried out in a cooperative spirit; the information provided to the workshop participants was complete and clear.”

Alina Novikova, UN/ECE Secretariat

“Chris was excellent to work with and always very pro active in making suggestions, taking work forward and applying his considerable technical knowledge in effective ways.”

Robert Vaughan, Defra Air Quality Team

“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

“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

“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

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

Umweltbundesamt (Germany)

“Aether delivered training workshops and generated learning materials for our SSN members, providing technical content in a manageable and comprehendible format. We particularly benefitted from their extensive knowledge and ability to interpret the needs of our members into the training materials.”

Jennifer Anderson, Sustainable Scotland Network

“If we have a need for any more reports in the future Aether will be first on my list.”

Alan Hardy, Kyson Design

“Aether was a great asset in involving/engaging with Member States experts on highly technical subjects regarding GHG reporting. Very clear communication of issues and results.”

Andreas Pilzecker, DG CLIMA

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