Government of Japan

Submission on difficulties with submitting GHGs Inventory in a timely manner

In replying the request in (FCCC/SBI/1999/L.5 of 8 June 1999) to provide a submission to the secretariat describing the nature of the difficulties with submitting emissions inventory data by 15 April, Japan submits the following comments:

1. Most of all statistics are prepared on Japan’s fiscal year basis, i.e. April through March. The period of these statistics is 3 months behind the calendar year.
2. Inventory of Japan's GHG data is calculated with the best use of existing annual statistics such as Energy Balance Table, Emission Inventory Survey for Air Pollution Control, etc. These existing statistics have their own purposes apart from climate change such as analysis of energy balance and local air pollution control following Japan's fiscal year. Re-designing statistics system or having original statistics solely for climate change involves immense costs and human resources.
3. Some of annual statistic data, especially Emission Inventory Survey for Air Pollution Control, are not accomplished by the end of next fiscal year, namely the end of March. After getting statistic data, it takes 3 months to calculate GHGs emissions data for checking error strictly and recalculating them several times.
4. Japan is doing the best in preparing the inventory as early as possible, however, due to the above circumstances, Japan cannot submit inventory sooner than the end of July every year.