NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT: AIR QUALITY ACT 39 OF 2004: TECHNICAL GUIDELINES FOR THE VALIDATION AND VERIFICATION OF GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS
Notice Title: National Environmental Management: Air Quality Act 39 of 2004 (“NEMAQA”): Technical Guidelines for the validation and verification of Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Government Notice: GN 1496 in GG 45452 on 12 November 2021
Commencing date: 12 November 2021
The Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (“the Minister”), in terms of section 12(1) of the NEMAQA, gave notice of the publication of the Technical Guidelines for the Validation and Verification of Greenhouse Gas Emissions (the Guidelines). The Guidelines are a companion to the South African National Greenhouse Gas Emission Reporting Regulations, GNR 275 of 3 April 2017 (the Regulations).
In order to ensure good quality and accurate submissions as part of the reporting programme, the Regulations make provision for the verification and validation of information submitted to the competent authority, established through Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (“DFFE”). Furthermore, the Regulations make provision for the reporting methodology through the Methodological Guidelines for Quantification of Greenhouse Gas Emissions.
The Guidelines describe the process that will be followed to verify the greenhouse gas (“GHG”) emissions data and submissions made by Data Providers in terms of the Regulations to the National Inventory Unit based at the DFFE (“Competent Authority”). Furthermore, the Guidelines detail the requirements for implementation of regulation 11 of the Regulations, which outlines the legal requirements for verification of information submitted by Data Providers to the Competent Authority.
The purpose of the Guidelines is to support the implementation of the mandatory GHG reporting regime in South Africa. The Guidelines provide direction to the Competent Authority, Data Providers and Independent Assessors on the verification process for the Regulations and details the responsibilities of these role players.
The Guidelines outline:
- The structure of the NGERs Verification Programme;
- The Competent Authority’s responsibility and the internal review and validation process that the Competent Authority will follow;
- The Data Providers’ responsibilities;
- The independent verification process to be followed;
- Accreditation requirements of independent verification bodies; and
- Important considerations for all role players during the verification process.
Furthermore, the Guidelines are made up of three primary sections, including:
- Competent Authority review and validation process;
- Independent verification process; and
- Accreditation process and competence requirements for Independent Assessors.
For a copy of the Government Gazette Notice click here.
How to ensure compliance at my operations?
The Guidelines are applicable to all anthropogenic emissions by sources and removals by sinks as outlined in Annexure 1 of the Regulations.
The Guidelines are intended to be used in conjunction with the Regulations and the Methodological Guidelines for Reporting of Greenhouse Gas Emissions.
For assistance or queries please contact Jan Nel at jan@shangoni.co.za.
