Greenhouse Gas Emissions Verification

Overview

Global warming presents one of the greatest challenges for mankind in the 21st century. There is universal concern about the adverse impact of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions on the earth's climate.

Governments have made commitments under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), and the subsequent Kyoto Protocol, which oblige them to reduce their national output of GHG emissions. Under the Kyoto Protocol, this is a collective reduction of 5% compared to 1990 levels by 2008-2012.

The target may seem small but it is regarded as one of the first steps by humankind to:

• Limit climate change and global warming 
• Reduce usage of fossil fuels and encourage renewable energy
• Encourage sustainable development

Within this framework a number of mechanisms are established to enable compliance with the targets.