Mandatory Greenhouse Gas Reporting System

Brief Introduction

In order to drive the rationality, fairness and consistency of the results of greenhouse gas measurements and the effectiveness of emission reduction within sectors, the Ministry of Environment of the Executive Yuan took into consideration of ISO international standards, the emission reduction mechanism of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change as well as the goal of aligning domestic management objectives with international. The localized management mechanism for accreditation bodies and verification bodies has been progressively established since 2004. The Operation Directions for GHG Validation and Verification Bodies Management in 2009 by the Ministry of Environment of the Executive Yuan was promulgated, establishing the standard operating procedures for management of the accreditation and verification bodies by the Ministry of Environment of the Executive Yuan. Following the announcement of greenhouse gas as an air pollutant in 2012, it was included in the management under the Air Pollution Control Act. Hence, in accordance with the provisions of Article 21, paragraph 2, and Article 44, paragraph 2, of the Air Pollution Prevention and Control Law, the GHG Accreditation and Verification Bodies Management Regulations was formulated, starting a new chapter in the legal authorization and management of inspection bodies.

Note: Greenhouse Gas Accreditation and Verification Bodies Management Regulations of Taiwan

In response to the promulgation and implementation of the Presidential Decree of the Greenhouse Gas Reduction and Management Act (now amended and renamed as the Climate Change Response Act) on July 1, 2015, the Ministry of Environment of the Executive Yuan, in order to complete the legal basis for the management of accreditation and verification bodies, has promulgated the Greenhouse Gas Accreditation and Verification Bodies Management Regulations on January 7, 2016 in accordance with Article 16, paragraph 2 of the Greenhouse Gas Reduction and Management Act (now amended to Article 22 of the Climate Change Response Act) based on the principle of continuing the current management procedures and methods of accreditation and verification bodies. The management regulations are applicable to the management of verification bodies, verification of emissions, and results in emissions reduction under the Greenhouse Gas Reduction and Management Act (now amended as the Climate Change Response Act).

Qualified Accreditation Bodies

The Ministry of Environment of the Executive Yuan developed a localized verification body management system by introducing an international accreditation mechanism which incorporated Taiwan's licensing mechanism of verification bodies to ensure the verification norms in Taiwan are fundamentally aligned with international practices.

The Ministry of Environment of the Executive Yuan currently entrusts international accreditation bodies to carry out the accreditation of Taiwan verification bodies. The conditions for appointing an accreditation body are as follows:

1. A. Comply with the requirements of ISO/IEC17011 jointly issued by International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and International Electrical Technical Commission (IEC).
2. B. Is a member of the International Accreditation Forum (IAF) which either is onboarded and is a IAF Multilateral Recognition Arrangement (MLA) signatory for Greenhouse Gas Validation and Verification, or is a IAF MLA signatory for the main scope of Management Systems Certification Bodies with sub scope for Quality Management Systems, and undertakes to complete the signing within two years after the establishment of the MLA for Greenhouse Gas Validation and Verification.
3. C. Submit the aforementioned qualification documents, accreditation quality management procedures (such as accreditation procedures, tracking procedures, re-evaluation procedures, procedures for addition to accreditation scope, accreditation specifications, etc.), among other documents designated by the Ministry of Environment of the Executive Yuan.
4. D. Cooperate with the Ministry of Environment of the Executive Yuan in the inspection work.
5. E. Please contact the following organization entrusted by the Ministry of Environment of the Executive Yuan for the accreditation certificates of verification bodies recognized by the Environmental Protection Department of the Executive Yuan: Taiwan Accreditation Foundation (https://www.taftw.org.tw/en/).

Qualified Verification Bodies

A. Approved verification items by the Ministry of Environment of the Executive Yuan

According to the Greenhouse Gas Accreditation and Verification Bodies Management Regulations promulgated on January 7, 2016, the qualifications of greenhouse gas verification projects are divided into two categories: organizational verification (Category A verification) and project-type verification (Category B verification). The organizational verification is applicable to voluntary and mandatory greenhouse gas emissions measurements or greenhouse gas reduction data verification while the project-type verification is applicable to the verification of project plans, greenhouse gas reduction data verification or important evaluations for offset projects.

Currently, seven verification bodies have obtained permits approved by the Ministry of Environment of the Executive Yuan for the verification of a total of 26 greenhouse gas verification items (20 organizational and 6 project-type verifications).

B. Basic information of verification bodies

C. Approved verification items of the verification body