According to Environmental Protection Minister Gilad Erdan: "Experience worldwide demonstrates that the very process of measuring and reporting helps identify the emissions reduction potential and results in greater energy efficiency in plants. Therefore, we have also begun to implement this in Israel by means of a registry system that will serve the Ministry and other stakeholders as a professional-management tool when relating to GHG emissions of different sectors (industrial plants, power plants, local authorities, etc.). The registry will serve as a basis for a GHG inventory in Israel and will contribute to the Ministry's preparedness to implement existing and future legislation in the field, including the Clean Air Law.

The first phase of the joint project was concluded with the preparation of a detailed document, including a protocol and reporting guidelines, for the registry system. Dr. Ofira Ayalon, who heads the project, notes that in line with the transparency of the process, "it is of utmost importance to allow other bodies to study the document and react to it in order to create a logical system that will be acceptable to companies." According to Dr. Ayalon, "the protocol was developed in consultation and cooperation with leading bodies in Israel's economy including: Nesher Israel Cement Enterprises Ltd., Israel Electric Corporation., Manufacturers Association of Israel, Israel Institute of Energy and Environment, public transportation companies (Egged and Dan), Israel Union for Environmental Defense, Forum 15 (Israel's major cities), Central Bureau of Statistics, Israel Defense Forces, Ministry of National Infrastructure and Ministry of Agriculture."

Why a GHG Registry for Israel?

In the Copenhagen Climate Change Conference which took place in December 2009, President Shimon Peres declared that Israel will do its best to reduce greenhouse gas emission by 20% until 2020, in comparison to a "business as usual" scenario. To achieve this target, Israel will have to develop a national program which will include mitigation measures.

The voluntary national system for GHG emissions accounting and reporting will respond to a number of needs:

• For the government: The reported data will serve as a tool to better understand emission sources and their reduction potential within the framework of developing new policy measures.
• For the reporting bodies: Participation in the reporting process will serve as a learning tool for quantifying GHG emissions and internalizing procedures for increasing efficiency and minimizing emissions.
• For the public: The dissemination of relevant information through public reporting will bring about better understanding of the subject and will deepen awareness and commitment on a personal level.

Drafting of the Registry System

The procedures and methods for Israel's registry system were planned by the Ministry of Environmental Protection and researchers at the S. Neaman Institute in cooperation with a wide circle of stakeholders. The aim of the team was to develop an operational protocol along with guidelines for reporting which would assist organizations and industrial plants in Israel in the registry and reporting process. During the planning and drafting process, special attention was focused on the needs of different bodies, on constraints and on adaptation of protocols in similar sectors worldwide to Israel's reality. The system is meant to encourage balanced and verified reporting which complies with international standards. While the system is based on the principle of voluntary participation by commercial and public bodies, in joining the system, these bodies in fact commit themselves to adopting the methodologies included in the protocol and to acting according to the reporting guidelines.

Operational Protocol and Guidelines for Reporting

The protocol provides a starting point for companies in the process of identifying, quantifying and reporting their GHG emissions, which are a reflection of their scope of activity. The quantification methods presented in the report are expected to allow for the creation of a clear and consensual base for calculating future emissions reductions.

The document itself is comprised of eight chapters: introduction, reporting systems worldwide and in Israel, structure of the registry and reporting system, guidelines for calculating the emissions characteristic of all the sectors, guidelines for calculating the emissions in different sectors, summary and reporting of the emissions inventory, quality management and data registry, and guidelines for implementing the reporting system in Israel.

The recommended quantification methods are based on information at the disposal of the reporting company or body and do not require monitoring of GHG emissions. For example, the data required for direct emissions from fuel combustion relates to the quantity of the different fuels consumed by the company annually and the emission factor for each of the fuels. The data required for indirect emissions due to electricity consumption relates to the quantity of electricity consumed and the appropriate emission factor which is generally provided by the Israel Electric Corporation or by a private electricity producer.

The document concludes with appendices made up of detailed tables of the emission factors required for emissions calculations. In addition, general guidelines on greenhouse gases which may be found in different economic sectors are provided. Tag listings allow for follow up of the data necessary to complete the emissions inventory and its preparation for reporting and registry. Examples of calculation methods and different considerations are also included to ease implementation.

Why Join the Registry System?

As awareness about the risks of climate change rises and global limits are increasingly set on GHG emissions, organizations and companies are beginning to recognize the commercial and reputational advantages of registering and following up on GHG emissions and regularly reporting to the authorities.

The main advantages of joining voluntary reporting systems include:

• Managing business risks which may arise from GHG emissions and identifying opportunities for reductions.
• Improving the sustainability and community commitment image through transparency and public reporting.
• Improving knowledge of emission quantification methods in preparation for mandatory reporting and reduction systems.
• Improving the ability to take part in future GHG emissions trading.

	Climate Change
	Climate Change Mitigation