What is the scope of the EC GHG inventory report?

Geographical coverage

The report contains information on total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by the EU-15 and EU-27.

Time coverage

The GHG emission data are reported for the period 1990 to 2006.

The GHG emissions data in the report always represent the emissions from two years prior to the year of publication. Hence, 2005 GHG emission are reported in 2007. This is in accordance with UNFCCC requirements; all parties to the UNFCCC report using the same procedure. It is normally not possible to come up with robust total GHG emission data earlier due to the availability of energy statistics and the execution of quality checks.

Greenhouse gases

The greenhouse gases (GHG) covered by the report are:

• CO₂ (carbon dioxide);
• CH₄ (methane);
• N₂O (nitrous oxide);
• three groups of flourinated gaseas (HFCs, PFCs and SF₆).

Sectors

The report covers emissions emitted within the territory of the EC and splits up information into trends within the main sectors defined by the Intergovermental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC, www.ipcc.ch):

• energy (including the transport sector);
• industrial processes;
• solvents and other products use;
• agriculture;
• land use, land use change and forestry;
• waste.

Compilation process

In addition, the report contains both an overview of how Member States compile their inventories as well as a comprehensive description of how the EC compiles its GHG emission inventory, including quality assurance and quality control aspects.