GHG emission assessment is a critical component of efforts to address climate change and promote sustainable development. It provides a foundation for developing effective mitigation strategies, tracking progress towards emission reduction targets, and informing policy decisions related to climate change and environmental management.
The purpose of GHG emission assessment is to provide a comprehensive understanding of the sources and magnitudes of emissions, as well as their impact on the environment. GHG emission assessment typically involves the use of standardized protocols and methodologies to measure and report GHG emissions. The most commonly used protocols are the Greenhouse Gas Protocol and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Guidelines. These protocols provide guidelines for calculating GHG emissions from various sources and sectors, using standardized metrics such as carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e). GHG emission assessment is an essential tool for developing effective mitigation strategies to reduce GHG emissions. By understanding the sources and drivers of emissions, it is possible to identify areas for improvement and prioritize actions to reduce emissions. GHG emission assessment can also help track progress towards emission reduction targets and evaluate the effectiveness of mitigation measures.
Ghana has made significant progress in GHG emission assessment but the data have not been harmonized for effective utilization. The estimated GHG emission by sector from 1990 to 2019 have been assessed and quantified in Ghana’s Fourth and Fifth National Greenhouse Gas Inventory Reports published by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Some emission data are scattered in other institutions including the Municipal waste collection companies, the Energy Commission, the Petroleum Commission, NGOs, CSOs and international databases.
NCEL is working on a NetZero research project in collaboration with Yinson Production West Africa and the Petroleum Commission to collect emission data, check the data for quality, update and model the data to investigate uncertainty and harmonize all emission data into a single interactive database for easy accessibility for decision making. The carbon intensity or footprint of the local oil and gas industry will also be assessed and compared to the total GHG emission of the country and the global petroleum industry to propose mitigation techniques to attain a carbon neutral industry and contribute efficiently to the energy transition goals of the country. NCEL has strong expertise in emission assessment and development of strategies to reduce emission through Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and innovative utilization options.
Back to Home