A Summary of the Revised 1996 IPCC Guidelines
for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories
Background
This report summarises additions and revisions to the 1995 IPCC Guidelines for National
Greenhouse Gas Inventories (1995 IPCC Guidelines). It also describes efforts made by theIPCC to harmonise methods with others. The additions and revisions were accepted by theIPCC at its Twelfth Session held in Mexico City (11-13 September 1996) after acceptance by
Working Group I at its Sixth Session held in Mexico City (10 September 1996) in accordancewith IPCC procedures. They are called the Revised 1996 IPCC Guidelines for National
Greenhouse Gas Inventories. Within this report, a revision of an existing methodology ordefault data is referred to as a ‘revision’, ‘revised method’ or ‘revised data’. Additional
methods and default data are defined as ‘new’ methods or ‘new data’.

Industrial Processes Chapter
1.
The Industrial Process Chapter contains a broad range of new estimation methodologies
for the so-called "new gases", that is perfluorocarbons, PFCs (e.g. CF4 and C2F6), HFCs (e.g.
HFC-125 and HFC-134a), sulphur hexafluoride (SF6), the direct GHG (CO2, CH4, and N2O),and ozone and aerosol precursors (SO2, NOx, CO, NMVOC) from industrial, non-energy,processes.
2.
Direct GHG: The new methodologies cover CO2, CH4, and N2O emissions from theproduction of mineral compounds, chemical industries and metal manufacture. The
estimation of CO2 emissions from cement production remains unchanged, but themethodologies for N2O emissions from nitric and adipic acid production have been revised.
3.
Aerosol and ozone precursors: For SO2, NOx, CO, NMVOC, new methodologies arepresented, which draw upon and improve existing international methodologies. The sectors
covered are: mineral compounds production, chemical industries and metal manufacture.
4.
Fluorocarbons and SF6: For HFCs and PFCs, and SF6, methodologies are provided toestimate by-product and fugitive emissions from aluminium (Al) and magnesium (Mg)manufacturing processes, as well as emissions from their production and consumption. Two
approaches are given: Tier 1 (a, b) for potential emissions, and Tier 2, for actual emissions.
Potential emissions of PFCs, HFCs, and SF6 are equal to the amount of a chemical consumedin a country, minus the amount of a chemical recovered for destruction or export in the yearof consideration. Actual emissions estimates take into account the time lag between
consumption and emissions. The Tier 2 methodology is, therefore, the more accurate
estimation approach.

References
Australian Methodology for the Estimation of Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks (1996).
Joint EMEP/CORINAIR Atmospheric Emission Inventory Guidebook (1996), 1st Edition,
European Environmental Agency.
1995 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories, Reporting Instructions(Volume 1); Workbook (Volume 2); Reference Manual (Volume 3).

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONSCO2CH4N2O
SO2NOxCONH3NMVOC

Carbon dioxide
MethaneNitrous oxide
Sulphur dioxide
Sum of nitrogen oxide and nitrogen dioxide
Carbon monoxide
Ammonia
Non-methane volatile organic compounds

For further information, please contact:
Ms. Bo Lim
IPCC Support Unit for Emission Inventories
OECD, Environment Directorate
2, rue André Pascal
75775 Paris Cedex 16France
Tel: (+33 1) 45 24 78 94
Fax: (+33 1) 45 24 78 76
Email: Bo.Lim@oecd.org