The quality and credibility of GHG inventories rely on the integrity of the methodologies used, the completeness of reporting, and the procedures for compilation of data. To promote the provision of credible and consistent GHG information, the Conference of Parties (COP) has developed standardized requirements for reporting national inventories.

The UNFCCC reporting guidelines on annual inventories require Parties included in Annex I to the Convention (Annex I Parties), by 15 April each year, to provide annual national GHG inventories covering emissions and removals of direct GHGs (CO2, CH4, N2O, HFCs, PFCs and SF6) from six sectors (Energy, Industrial processes, Solvents, Agriculture, LULUCF, Waste), and for all years from the base year or period to the most recent year.

Under the UNFCCC reporting guidelines for Annex I Parties, inventory submissions are in two parts:

• Common reporting format (CRF) – a series of standardized data tables containing mainly numerical information and submitted electronically
• National Inventory Report (NIR) – a comprehensive description of the methodologies used in compiling the inventory, the data sources, the institutional structures and quality assurance and control procedures

Well-constructed annual inventories should include sufficient documentation and data to enable the reader to understand the underlying assumptions and calculations of the reported emission estimates. 

The updated "Guidelines for the preparation of national communications by Parties included in Annex I to the Convention, Part I: UNFCCC reporting guidelines on annual inventories" include the revisions to the land use, land-use change and forestry sector adopted by the Conference of the Parties (COP) at its eleventh session.

In decision 7/CP.11 the COP requested that Annex I Parties should use the CRF Reporter software (developed by the secretariat) for the submission of their annual greenhouse gas inventories due from April 2006 to assist the secretariat in organizing reviews in an efficient and timely manner.  Please find the frequently asked questions regarding the use of the CRF Reporter software here. 

The CRF Reporter is reflecting the reporting requirements as agreed by the COP by decisions 18/CP.8 and 13/CP.9. The latest version of the CRF Reporter reflects the changes agreed by decision 14/CP.11 regarding the LULUCF sector.

CRF Tables for adoption by SBTSA plenary 2011

Set 1 - Energy, industrial processes and waste

Set 2 - AFOLU

Set 3 - Cross sectoral

The Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice at its thirtieth session considered the use by Parties of the 2006 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change guidelines for national greenhouse gas inventories 2006 IPCC Guidelines starting in 2015.  The draft conclusions proposed by the Chair are contained in the document FCCC/SBSTA/2009/3 with its key items, including a schedule of workshops.  >>more

The national inventory report (NIR), as established by decision 18/CP.8 is one element of the annual greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory that is required to be submitted to the UNFCCC by Annex I Parties to the Convention on 15 April of each year. The other elements of this submission include the reporting of GHG emissions by sources and removals by sinks in the common reporting format (CRF) tables, and any other additional information in support of this submission.

Annex I Parties that are also Parties to the Kyoto Protocol are also required to report supplementary information required under Article 7, paragraph 1, of the Kyoto Protocol, with the inventory submission due under the Convention, in accordance with paragraph 3(a) of decision 15/CMP.1.

The outline of the NIR, as set out in the updated UNFCCC reporting guidelines on annual inventories following incorporation of the provisions of decision 14/CP.11, was noted by the SBSTA at its twenty-fifth session. The SBSTA requested Annex I  Parties to make use of this updated guidelines in their preparation of national inventories. However, this NIR outline provides only for the submission due under the Convention.  In response to requests by many Parties, the secretariat has prepared an example of a NIR outline (308 kB) and its annotations for reporting by Annex I Parties who are also Parties to the Kyoto Protocol of supplementary information required under Article 7, paragraph 1, of the Kyoto Protocol.

This NIR outline and its annotations are based on the outline required for NIRs under the Convention and relevant decisions by the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol.

The secretariat would encourage Annex I Parties that are also Parties to the Kyoto Protocol to use this NIR outline and its annotations as a basis for its reporting of the supplementary information required under Article 7, paragraph 1, of the Kyoto Protocol, in conjunction with the submission due under the Convention and to submit their NIR to the UNFCCC submission portal.

To facilitate a process for Annex I Parties to officially submit their annual inventory submissions under the Convention and supplementary information required under Article 7, paragraph 1, of the Kyoto Protocol, and national communications, the UNFCCC secretariat has created a simple and user-friendly web-based interface called the "UNFCCC Submission Portal". The portal allows Annex I Parties to easily and securely upload the required submissions. The portal also allows Parties to view the status of the submissions made using the system.

Integrated with the secretariat's internal processes for receiving and processing submissions, the system will progressively replace the various submission channels used in the past.

The UNFCCC Submission Portal is available to Annex I Parties and fully operational as of 16 February 2009.

Questions relating to the use of the submission portal should be addressed to: GHGINVAI@unfccc.int .