COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS MUSTMAKE GHGs EMISSION INVENTORY?

Greenhouse gas (GHGs) emission inventory is an important tool in managing greenhouse gas emissions, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and protecting the ozone layer. Commercial buildings of diverse sizes have become popular and popular due to meeting the needs of a rapidly developing economy. GHGs emission inventory requirements for commercial buildings with emissions capacity or total energy consumption exceeding thresholds are more urgent than ever, in order to minimize negative impacts on the environment.

Commercial buildings must implement GHGs emission inventory when annual energy consumption exceeds thresholds

GHGs inventory is the activity of collecting information and data on sources of GHGs emissions, calculating the amount of GHGs emissions and absorption of GHGs within a specified range and in a specific year according to methods and procedures promulgated by competent authorities. It is one of the basic activities in the overall plan to reduce the amount of GHGs harmful to the Earth’s atmosphere, aiming at the Net Zero goal (net zero emissions in the future) that Vietnam is aiming for.

GHGs means gas in the atmosphere causing the greenhouse effect. Major GHGs include carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄) and nitrous oxide (N₂O). Low-concentration gases that have high global warming potential include hydrofluorocarbons (HFC_S), perfluorocarbons (PFC_S), sulphur hexafluoride (SF₆) and nitrogen, trifluoride (NF₃).

According to current law, commercial buildings are subject to GHG inventory when their total annual energy consumption is from 1,000 TOE (tons of oil equivalent).

Details for establishments in the list of fields and establishments that emit GHGs that must have GHGs inventory is promulgated by the Prime Minister and updated periodically every 2 years.

Commercial buildings subject to regulation need to pay attention to compliance with GHGs emission inventory requirements

Based on the essential requirements to ensure transparency and efficiency in emissions management, GHGs emission inventory need to comply with the guidance of competent authorities to ensure accurate and transparent, trustworthy results. Specifically:

– Methods of GHG emission inventory shall be applied according to GHGs inventory development guidelines of IPCC;

– Operation figures serving GHG emission inventory development must ensure the continuity, accuracy and reliability, be suitable for examination, comparison and evaluation;

– GHG inventory reports must include adequate information of GHGs emission inventory methods, operation figures, applicable emission factors and results;

– Verification of GHGs emission inventory shall comply with verification procedures promulgated by the Ministry of Natural Resource and Environment and ensure the consistency and reliability;

– Information about GHGs emission inventory result at national-level and industry-level shall be announced on the websites of climate change authorities and authorities of relevant industries.

Responsibility of commercial buildings to conduct GHGs inventory

The results of the GHGs inventory are the basis for allocating quotas and developing plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Accordingly, establishments emitting GHGs on the list that must conduct GHGs inventory are responsible to:

– organize the development of GHG inventory, build and maintain a database of GHG emissions and send inventory results to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment every 02 years for consolidation and reporting to the Prime Minister. Deadline is December 01 of the reporting period.

–  formulate and implement the annual plan to reduce GHG emissions; integrate the reduction of GHG emissions into its quality management program, cleaner production program and environmental protection program;

– prepare an annual report on reduction of GHG emissions to implement its GHG emissions reduction plan using the measurement, reporting and appraisal system, and submit it to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, other Ministries, ministerial agencies and provincial People’s Committees. Deadline is December 01 of the reporting period.

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