Greenhouse Gas Emissions Verification

What is GHG Emissions Verification?

The adverse impact of Green House Gas (GHG) emissions on climate change is almost universally acknowledged as the most pressing global challenge.

Mounting political influence through the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the accelerating momentum of the Kyoto Protocol and internationally agreed targets are compelling more and more countries to limit and reduce GHG emissions.

Throughout the European Union and in Australia and California, emission trading schemes provide a legislative tool for controlling emissions. Under the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS), installations that operate below their allocated level of emissions can profit from selling their surplus allowances to installations that exceed their GHG quota. Conversely, those installations that exceed their allocated level of emissions are obliged to buy allowances in order to balance their deficit. Similar schemes are in the latter stages of development in Taiwan, Canada and several states of the USA, while many more countries and regional blocks are in the process of following suit.

For your organisation and for thousands of others throughout the world, managing greenhouse gas is now a corporate and environmental necessity. But measuring, controlling, monitoring and validating GHG emissions is not enough. Accredited, independent verification is needed to prove the robustness of the installation’s procedures, so that regulators can trust the results.

Who is it relevant to?

Any installation which is subject to a mandatory scheme must seek accredited verification. Currently, the industries covered by legislation include: electricity generation; manufacturing or processing of iron, steel, aluminium, offshore, chemicals, ceramics, glass, cement, lime, plaster, pulp and paper or petrochemicals; breweries and distilleries; hospitals and dairies.

Soon, similar but smaller installations, as well as new industries, will be joining the list. Ultimately the majority of industry worldwide will be subject to GHG emission legislation. So it demonstrates sound risk management to gain experience with the necessary procedures as soon as you can. And meanwhile, impartial GHG emission verification will significantly enhance the robustness of your in-house reports

What are the benefits?

• Comply with legislation - Independently verified proof of your emissions is required to avoid punitive penalties associated with current GHG emission regulation in your country or region.
• Attract shareholder investment - Your organisation will be a more attractive opportunity for the growing number of investors seeking proof of ‘green governance’.
• Capitalise on your energy efficiency - Gaining independent GHG emission verification (GHGEV) could enable you to identify areas for further procedural improvement and prove to you the value of savings which your GHG reduction programme has been making.
• Improve your corporate image - Third party verification affirms your commitment to the challenges of climate change to your employees, customers, shareholders and other stakeholders.

Why Blackmores?

Blackmores is a unique Management Systems consultancy that specialises in implementing management systems in organisations across a wide range of sectors. We make the transition to successful implementation painless, cost effective and timely allowing you time to focus on what you do best – running your business. Within the verification process, we’ll review your current systems for managing, measuring and monitoring GHG emissions. We’ll check that you have processes in place to ensure the correct calibration of your equipment, that your calculations are based on the right data and with the correct conversion factors. We’ll check that you have internal audit procedures in place and help you identify potential opportunities for improvement. All this will be in line with the principles of international management system standards ISO 14065 and the ISO 14064 series.

Errors in measurement, or gaps in procedures, which are discovered in the course of the verification, must be resolved before the deadline for emission data submission.

Once the verification has been satisfactorily completed and the results cross-checked by an independent reviewer, we’ll issue you with a verification report and a final opinion statement in the required format.
Blackmores also provide a unique ‘Q-Care’ service that provides you with ongoing support in maintaining and improving your GHG emissions programme.

To find out how your business could improve by verifying your GHG emissions, contact Blackmores on 01462 450591 or e-mail enquiries@bqms.co.uk

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