The challenge
Under the UNFCCC, Liberia is classified as a non-Annex I party, and is required to submit National Communications (NCs) and Biennial Update Reports (BURs) at regular intervals. In 2013, Liberia successfully submitted its first NC to the UNFCCC in 2013 and in 2021 it submitted both its second NC and its first BUR. The second NC highlighted that the accuracy and completeness of the inventory was constrained by a lack of reliable and up to date activity data.
Through the Global Environment Facility (GEF) funded project ‘Consultancy to Develop Liberia’s National GHGI and MRV System’ Aether was able to support the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in Liberia with the following objectives:
- To train key stakeholders on GHG emissions inventory compilation
- To create a Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV) Platform for Liberia.
The solution
Key stakeholders received training on data collection, emissions calculations (using 2006 IPCC GHG Inventory reporting guidelines and the 2019 Refinement) and documentation of the compilation process.
The GHGI compilation training that Aether provided focussed on completeness and transparency with the aim to create a sustainable system that will feed into the UNFCCC reporting cycles.
All training was completed remotely due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. A combination of online presentations, one-on-one mentoring sessions and activities hosted on the NIU Akili e-learning platform were provided. Individuals who completed the training received certification from NIU.
Aether set up an MRV platform to consolidate the existing GHGI information and provide an effective system to support GHG inventory compilation and reporting in the future.
The result
52 individuals completed the online GHG inventory training and received certification from NIU. Remaining knowledge gaps and associated recommendations were provided to EPA to feed into future capacity building projects.
Aether is providing a five-year support package for the MRV platform, hosted by the EPA. Alongside providing technical advice, this package will aim to establish a self-reliant MRV co-ordination team within the EPA to improve the MRV system and support GHG inventory reporting.
See all case studies