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Email PageKeywords: QA/QC | institutional arrangements
What data needs were addressed? Documentation of methodologies employed as part of The Netherlands’ inventory.
Why was the data needed? To implement quality control of data, calculations and resulting emissions, and to document updates to methodologies employed in the country’s national inventory.
Methods used: Structured quality assurance and control procedures, documentation in methodology reports.
How was the data need addressed? The Pollutant Release and Transfer Register group, a collaborative group including Statistics Netherlands (CBS), Wageningen University & Research centre (WUR), the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), and PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency (PBL), is responsible for the collection and establishment of yearly emissions of pollutants to air, water and soil in the Netherlands. The group has a task force leader Agriculture responsible for quality assurance and quality control.
Every year, a check is done on (a) documentation and adoption of data, (b) correct implementation of calculations, (c) consistent use of assumptions and specific parameters and (d) application of complete and consistent datasets. As a result, an action list is developed, listing any actions relevant as a result of the quality control. The list is shared with the secretary of the Emission Registration group.
Furthermore, every year a trend analysis is done, comparing new data with data from the previous year. If emissions exceed 5% at target group or 0.5% at national level, an explanation is sought and again communication to the secretary of the Emission Registration group.
A logbook of all quality control checks, results, explanations and actions is kept at the Emission Registration secretary. Based on the results of the trend analysis, feedback on the control and correction process (‘action list’) the Working Group on Emissions Monitoring (WEM) gives advice to the institute representatives (Deltares on behalf of Rijkswaterstaat, Statistics Netherlands (CBS) and Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency (PBL) to approve the dataset.
Detailed methodologies employed as well as any updates of methodologies are reported in separate methodology reports.
Further Resources
Vonk J, et al. 2018. Methodology for estimating emissions from agriculture in the Netherlands update 2018. Calculations of CH4, NH3, N2O, NOx, PM10, PM2.5 and CO2 with the National Emission Model for Agriculture (NEMA). Wageningen, The Statutory Research Tasks Unit for Nature and the Environment (WOT Natuur & Milieu). WOt-technical report.
Vonk J, et al. 2016. Methodology for estimating emissions from agriculture in the Netherlands. Calculations of CH4, NH3, N2O, NOx, PM10, PM2.5 and CO2 with the National Emission Model for Agriculture (NEMA). Wageningen, The Statutory Research Tasks Unit for Nature and the Environment (WOT Natuur & Milieu). WOt-technical report.
Author: Andreas Wilkes, Values for development Ltd (2019)