Category: International organisations, Emission inventories, Policies and measures

Support to the European Environment Agency

Aether has been providing support to the European Environment Agency through their European Topic Centres since 2014, focussing on air pollution, industrial pollution and climate change mitigation.

Aether has been providing support to the European Environment Agency through their European Topic Centres since 2014. From 2022 Aether provides support under two new ETCs – the ETC for Climate Change and Mitigation (CM) and the ETC for Human Health and the Environment (HE) – both of which will run until the end of 2026.

An annual work programme is agreed within each ETC, covering many different projects. Our work in these fall into three thematic areas:

  1. Air pollution data and policy
  2. Industrial pollution
  3. Climate change mitigation policy

Some of the highlights of our work across these areas are summarised here.

Air pollution

Air pollution data

In 2022 this will include support to review and compilation of the EU-27 air pollution inventories under the NECD and the UN/ECE Convention on long-range transboundary air pollution (CLRTAP), and a project to explore the methodologies to estimate the health and environmental impacts of ammonia and methane emissions from the livestock sector. Aether will also be providing support to the 2023 update of the EMEP/EEA Guidebook for air pollution emissions inventories.

Analysis of air pollution policies

Aether supports the reporting and analysis of the air pollution policies and measures (PaMs) reported by EU Member States under the National Emissions reduction Commitments Directive (NECD). This produces a series of products:

The report describes the main characteristics of Member States’ additional air pollutant PaMs reported through the EEA PaM tool as required by Directive the NECD. The report also explores the potential synergies between air pollution and climate PaMs.

In 2021 Aether researched the impact of COVID-19 on Member States’ planned additional air pollution policies and the potential consequences for meeting their reduction commitments.

Contact Katrina Young for more information.

Industrial pollution

Aether has been leading work to support the European Commission and the EEA with the streamlining of industrial pollution reporting:

  • The establishment of the EU Registry on Industrial Sites, a unique reference dataset containing identification and administrative data on industrial point sources covered by EU law on industrial pollution; and
  • The integration of thematic reporting on combustion plants (LCPs) according to Article 72 of the Industrial Emissions Directive (IED) and on facilities subject to the European Pollutant Release and Transfer Register (E-PRTR) Regulation.

These project websites contain numerous resources (including data models, QA/QC documentation and manuals for reporters) to help reporting countries prepare to use the new data flows:

In 2022 industrial emissions projects include research on the external cost of industrial air pollution, and the contribution of the industrial sector to the 2030 emissions reduction commitments and its role in the long term.

Contact Mark Gibbs for more information.

Climate change mitigation

Agricultural climate mitigation policies and measures

This project asked two key research questions: What kinds of policies for the mitigation of agricultural GHG emissions are currently implemented and planned by EU-27 MS, and why have they not effectively reduced overall agricultural GHG emissions? What further actions are needed to reduce EU-27 agricultural emissions? The report is available to read here.

Contact Richard German for more information.

Policies and measures reporting and analysis

These projects provide support to Member States reporting climate mitigation policies and measures (PaMs) under the EU Governance Regulation, analysis of the information reported, and development of a visual presentation of the data. Previously, this has included on anlaysis of topics such as case studies of good practice policy mixes in building energy efficiency, and on PaMs covering renewable energy in the heating and cooling sectors.

Recent publications include:

In 2022 this includes support to the EEA exploring the impacts of climate mitigation policies in the waste sector.

Contact Katrina Young for more information.

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News

Latest news

Posted on: 01 June 2025

2025 Historical NECD, Projections NECD, ESR and LULUCF reviews

The Aether team is supporting reviews of air pollutant and greenhouse gas inventories for several European countries, including under the NECD, ESR, and LULUCF regulations. These reviews ensure accurate emissions data to meet EU targets for 2030. The team is also helping build capacity in countries needing extra support, contributing to cleaner air and better climate policy implementation across Europe.

Read full story

Posted on: 04 May 2025

Annual meeting of the Task Force on Emissions Inventories and Projections (TFEIP)

In May, several members of the Aether team attended the annual meeting of the Task Force on Emissions Inventories and Projections (TFEIP) which was hosted in Warsaw by the Polish Institute of Environmental Protection.

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Posted on: 11 February 2025

Aether to support world-leading UK Government emissions inventory

We’re thrilled to announce our continued work under the newly awarded 10-year contract for the National Atmospheric Emissions Inventory (NAEI).

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Posted on: 16 December 2024

Training Workshop in Kazakhstan on Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV) and the Emission Trading Scheme (ETS)

In December 2024, Aether’s Melanie Hobson and Bob Boyce worked with the Asian Development Bank to provide capacity building on MRV and ETS to government Ministries in Kazakhstan.

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Testimonial

Don't just take our word for it...

“Aether delivered training workshops and generated learning materials for our SSN members, providing technical content in a manageable and comprehendible format. We particularly benefitted from their extensive knowledge and ability to interpret the needs of our members into the training materials.”

Jennifer Anderson, Sustainable Scotland Network

“The support provided by Aether for this project was especially remarkable considering the situation of the COVID-19 pandemic. The tools and methods used in order to engage local stakeholders really added value to the capacity building of the national team.”

Shanna Emmanuel, Saint Lucia BUR Project Coordinator

“I must congratulate each of you for your professional and tireless efforts. Let me point out that this has been the 'neatest' in-country review expert review team I have coordinated, and it has been a real pleasure.”

UNFCCC Secretariat

“It is always an absolute pleasure working with Aether. I always know what is expected of me. Their work ethic is of a very high standard and projects are always handled in a very professional manner. I have learnt many skills in terms of project management, quality control and workshop training styles from Aether and I hope to carry these principles forward in my own work. I look forward to collaborating with Aether more in the future.”

Luanne Stevens, Gondwana

“Aether is a great partner for work in the area of European Air Emissions. The team was committed, reliable, well organised and had a deep technical understanding and motivated other partners with their good spirit.”

Umweltbundesamt: Environment Agency Austria

“The Aether team were a joy to work with and I would recommend the consultancy - the service provided throughout the process was exceptional. Where there were problems, they provided solutions. The team were working to very short time scales but were able to deliver a high quality piece of work within the specified time frame.”

Sefton Council - for the Merseyside Atmospheric Emissions Inventory

“A heartfelt thank you to all the Aether team for this very comprehensive review – this is certainly turning out to be one of the most beneficial capacity building projects I have ever been involved in.”

Saviour Vassallo, Senior Environment Protection Officer, Malta Resources Authority

“Engaging Aether to support us to develop the first GHG Inventory System and first Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) for the United Republic of Tanzania has been a rewarding experience due to their high level of professionalism, creativity, timeliness and value for money. We will definitely consider Aether in our future initiatives.”

Abbas Kitogo, Programme Specialist Energy and Climate Change, UNDP Tanzania

“The team at Aether works very professionally and communicates very well which makes working with them a pleasure. Outputs are delivered on time to high quality. The team brings the rigour of technical knowledge and expertise and finds innovative ways of communicating complex messages. I would be happy to recommend the Aether team to organisations working on analysing and presenting emissions information in the public domain.”

Fiona Glover, States of Jersey

“Chris was excellent to work with and always very pro active in making suggestions, taking work forward and applying his considerable technical knowledge in effective ways.”

Robert Vaughan, Defra Air Quality Team

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