CGE Training Materials
National Greenhouse Gas Inventories
The IPCC Emission Factor Database
Version 2, April 2012
Consultative Group of Experts (CGE)
Training Materials for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories
Target Audience and Objective of the Training Materials
 These training materials are suitable for people with beginner to intermediate level
knowledge of national greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory development.
 After having read this presentation, in combination with the related IPCC EFDB User
Manual, the reader should:
 Have an overview of how to use the IPCC EFDB
 Have a general understanding of the IPCC EFDB
 Be able to determine which methods suits her/his country’s situation best
 Know where to find more detailed information on this topic.
 These training materials have been developed on the basis of documents developed
by the IPCC; hence the reader is always encouraged to refer to the original
documents to obtain further detailed information on a particular issue.
Consultative Group of Experts (CGE)
Training Materials for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories
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Acronyms
 EFDB
IPCC Emission Factor Database
 REDD
Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation
 SBI
Subsidiary Body for Implementation
 SBSTA
Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice
 TSU
Technical Support Unit
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Training Materials for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories
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Estimating Emissions
 IPCC Guidelines contain global or regional default values (mostly for Tier 1) based on the
best science when the guidelines were compiled.
Emissio

Facto
*
Activ
Factor from IPCC defaults
or national information
Activity from national or
international statistics
 Higher tier estimates need country-specific factors based on:
 Situation in country, methods, management etc
 Latest science and best practice elsewhere
 Latest mitigation being applied.
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Training Materials for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories
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However, …
 It is expensive to measure all the factors used.
 Even just for key categories, this would often would be prohibitive.
 It would be more efficient to use values developed elsewhere for similar circumstances.
 Emission factors and other parameters may not be easily accessible.
 Data may be in the appropriate peer-reviewed literature, but this is not always widely
accessible.
 Other data may be in less easy-to-find reports.
Consultative Group of Experts (CGE)
Training Materials for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories
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The Emission Factor Database
 The IPCC Emission Factor Database (EFDB) aims to:
 Be a library of parameters useful to inventory compilers:
 Both peer reviewed and other reports;
 Provide sufficient information to judge whether the data may be applicable to specific
circumstances;
 Give references to source documents so users can judge whether the data can be
used in their situation;
 Be freely available to all:
 Web version as well as CD;
 Allow anyone to provide data to share with other users:
 Data evaluated by Editorial Board;
 Users are responsible for checking that data are appropriate to their circumstances.
Consultative Group of Experts (CGE)
Training Materials for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories
6
The Growing Importance of the EFDB
 In the context of revision of the UNFCCC Annex I reporting guidelines, the SBSTA32
welcomed the work of the IPCC to facilitate the use of the 2006 IPCC Guidelines,
including its efforts to develop inventory software and the Emission Factor Database. It
invited the IPCC and other relevant organizations to strengthen their efforts in this area.
(FCCC/SBSTA/2010/6, paragraph 76).
 In the context of REDD discussion, the SBSTA32 requested the UNFCCC secretariat to
work with the IPCC on promoting the use of the IPCC Emission Factor Database.
(FCCC/SBSTA/2010/6, paragraph 40).
 In the context of national communications from non-Annex I Parties (NAI-NC), the
Consultative Group of Experts (CGE):
 Agreed on the usefulness of the Emission Factor Database; and
 Recommended improvement of data quality by the enhancement of the sharing of
country-specific emission factors through the Emission Factor Database among NAI
Parties, as an element to be considered in a future revision of the NAI-NC Guidelines.
(FCCC/SBI/2011/5/Rev.1)
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Training Materials for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories
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Data contained in the EFDB
 At present, the EFDB contains the IPCC default data (from the Revised 1996 IPCC
Guidelines, IPCC good practice guidance reports and the 2006 IPCC Guidelines).
 Additional data from the global scientific and inventory society are also included.
 New data will be evaluated for acceptance by the EFDB Editorial Board according to the
following criteria:
 The EFDB should assist countries in producing inventories that are neither over- nor
underestimates so far as can be judged and in which uncertainties are reduced as far
as practicable.
 To this end, the data are assessed by the Editorial Board to see if they are robust,
applicable and documented
 This is not a full scientific review.
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Training Materials for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories
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Comparison of IPCC Default and EFDB Data: Enteric Fermentation,
Dairy Cows
25
140
120
Number of values
100
15
80
60
10
40
CH4 Emission factor, kg/head/yr
Data presented
as:
20
5
20
0
0
IPCC
Finland
IPCC
Argentina
IPCC
Kenya
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Training Materials for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories
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Populating the EFDB
Editorial
Board
Data
Provider
Data Form
Data
Data
Data
Data
Data
Meeting
with EB
TSU
Defaults
Literature
Search
Consultants
EFDB
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How Data can be Submitted
 The IPCC welcomes data proposals from everyone.
 The website has details and forms with single data and bulk data entry but…
 The simplest way is to send an email with details to TSU with details at: nggiptsu@iges.or.jp.
 After receipt by TSU:
 Data are reviewed by the Editorial Board (EB)
 The EB contact the data provider for more information
 If the data meet the criteria they are published in the database.
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Training Materials for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories
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EB Criteria for New Data
 Robust
 Within the accepted uncertainty, the value is unlikely to change if there was repetition
of the original measurement programme or modelling activity.
“Properties”
 Applicable
 An emission factor can only be applicable if the source and its mix of technology,
operating and environmental conditions and abatement and control technologies
under which the emission factor was measured or modelled are clear and allow the
user to see how it can be applied.
 Documented
 Access information to the original technical reference must be provided to evaluate
the robustness and applicability as described above.
Consultative Group of Experts (CGE)
Training Materials for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories
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Robustness
 Specific issues concerning robustness are, for example:
 Are the measurement techniques including raw data validated and/or verified?
 Are the modelling techniques including supporting data validated and/or verified?
 Is the conversion (if any) from model assumptions or measurement conditions to
annual or other forms of emission factors or other parameters sufficiently explained
and justified?
 Is an uncertainty assessment on the emission factor or other parameter presented?
 Sufficient documentation (provision of access to technical references) will help.
Consultative Group of Experts (CGE)
Training Materials for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories
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Robustness
Emission Factor Report (ID: 213625)
Administrative information
Data Provider:
Data Provider Country:
Data Provider Contact:
Date calculated:
Date submitted to EFDB by Data
Provider:
Date posted to EFDB by IPCC:
Technical information
Gas:
GIO/CGER/NIES
Japan
aizawa.tomoyuki@nies.go.jp
2005/6/25
2006-03-27 20:05:57
Unknown
NITROUS OXIDE
…
…
Usage/Review information
Type of parameter:
Measurement technique/standard:
Periodicity of measurement:
External quality control performed:
Date of measurement:
Comments from the data provider:
Measured
The N2O decomposition ratio (same meaning as "destruction
Online infrared gas analyzers and flow meters were used to
continuously measure the concentrations and the flow rates of
N2O entering and exiting the decomposition equipment. The
instantaneous value of a measurement was recorded every few
seconds. The instaneous values recorded data were used for
N2O emission calculations.
The independent auditing organization certified in August, 2005
that emission estimates were conducted properly and the data
obtained and verified from the investigation were valid and
2004-4-1 to 2005-4-1
As 0.03% of the generated N2O gas escapes through the online
infrared gas analyzer and during the first crystallization process,
the remaining 99.97% is fed into decomposition equipment. In
addition, 99.97% of the N2O fed is destroyed. Therefore, the
overall destruction factor is 99.94% (= 0.9997 * 0.9997).
Comments from others:
Link:
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Training Materials for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories
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Applicability – “Properties” are Crucial
 “Properties” define what EFDB users might see as important information in order to judge
whether the data are suitable for their inventories.
 Five types of “properties”:
 Technologies/practices
 Parameters/conditions
 Region/regional conditions
 Abatement/control technologies
 Others.
Consultative Group of Experts (CGE)
Training Materials for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories
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Applicability – “Properties” are crucial
Emission Factor Report (ID: 513626)
Administrative information
Data Provider:
Data Provider Country:
Data Provider Contact:
Date calculated:
Date submitted to EFDB by Data
Provider:
Date posted to EFDB by IPCC:
Technical information
Gas:
Xiaoquan Zhang
China
xiaoquan@caf.ac.cn
2006-06-28
2006-07-11 19:33:14
2006-09-08 16:02:18
CARBON DIOXIDE
IPCC 1996 Source/Sink Category:
IPCC 2006 Source/Sink Category:
Properties
Land-Use Change & Forestry (5) -> Changes in Forest and Other Woody Biomass Stocks
(5A) -> Tropical Forests (5A1) -> Plantations (5A1g)
Agriculture, Forestry, and Other Land Use (3) -> Land (3.B)
The rotation is around 25 years. Thinning is usually done. Other management activities include
fertilizer application.
Abatement/Control Technologies: Other activities include pest and disease control, and fire control
Technologies/Practices:
Parameters/Conditions: Tree species: Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata); age ranges from 3 to 60 year-old.
Region/Regional Conditions:
Country: China; Region: Southern China; Climate zone: subtropical, very moist climate; Mean
annual temperature is 17°C; Mean annual precipitation is 1500mm.
Others: tree height ranges from 2 to 28.1 meter, DBH from 2 to 48.1 cm
Description:
Value:
Unit:
Value in common units:
Common unit:
Equation:
IPCC Worksheet:
Source of data:
Biomass Expansion Factor (BEF2) converting volumes of extracted rounwood to total
aboveground biomass (overbark) for Chinese fir
1.66 (1.21 - 2.97)
dimensionless (dimensionless)
Equations 3.2.3, 3.2.7, and 3.2.8 in IPCC Good Practice Guidance for Land Use, Land-Use
Change and Forestry
Worksheet FL-1a of IPCC GPG-LULUCF
compiled from Science literature (calculated from 121 studies from 39 published articles in
Chinese Journals
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Documentation
 Sufficient information on technical references, for example:
 Scientific or technical publication in an internationally available journal
 Report or book with an ISBN.
 A URL where the technical references are available will be quite helpful.
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Training Materials for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories
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Documentation
Emission Factor Report (ID: 513034)
Administrative information
Data Provider:
Data Provider Country:
Data Provider Contact:
IPCC
(Not applicable)
ipcc-efdb@iges.or.jp
…
…
Technical information
Gas:
CARBON DIOXIDE
…
…
Worksheet FL-1a of GPG-LULUCF
IPCC Good Practice Guidance for LULUCF, Table
3A.1.10 (Default Values of Biomass Expansion Factors
(BEFS)), page 3.178.
Isaev et al., 1993; Brown, 1997; Brown and Schroeder,
1999; Schoene, 1999; ECE/FAO TBFRA, 2000; Lowe et
al., 2000; Refer to FRA Working Paper 68 and 69 for
average values for developing countries (
English
IPCC Worksheet:
Source of data:
Technical Reference:
Reference language:
…
…
Usage/Review information
Type of parameter:
Comments from the data provider:
Comments from others:
Link:
1996 IPCC default
Data applicable to Forest Land Remaining Forest Land (5FL-1) and to Land Converted to Forest Land (5-FL-2)
http://www.fao.org/forestry/index.jsp
Consultative Group of Experts (CGE)
Training Materials for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories
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Enhancement and Improvement
 Continuing efforts for data population:
 The IPCC welcomes data from anyone
 Meetings to collect data are held, in principle, twice every year
 Up-to-date data/information relevant to “2013 Supplement to the 2006 IPCC
Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories: Wetlands” will be included.
 Improvement to the EFDB user-interface, etc.:
 Navigability of data search process will be improved
 User-friendliness of data input process will be improved.
Consultative Group of Experts (CGE)
Training Materials for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories
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Summary
 The EFDB is a library of data that may provide more accurate parameters for your
national inventory.
 Users MUST check themselves whether data are applicable to their circumstances.
 The IPCC is actively requesting anyone with suitable data to submit it.
 Data will be assessed for robustness, applicability and documentation – not a full scientific
review.
 The IPCC is planning improvements to the EFDB.
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Training Materials for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories
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Thank you
Consultative Group of Experts (CGE)
Training Materials for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories
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