An integrated MRV system in South Africa
South Africa is among the leaders in its development of a comprehensive MRV system that is integrated into national monitoring and evaluation (M&E) processes, tuned to international Measuring, Reporting and Verification (MRV) requirements. The monitoring encompasses the whole of MRV process, and the evaluation component provides “continuous assessment and feedback” to the monitoring system. Besides covering climate change mitigation and adaptation, the system also includes M&E of all atmospheric emissions (such as PM, NOx, SOx, etc.) through a web-based platform called the National Atmospheric Emissions Inventory System (NAEIS). This integration aims at enabling the federal, provincial and local governments to track progress on the transition towards a climate-resilient and lower-carbon economy and society (NCCRP 2011). The system will also help to update the National Climate Change Response Database (NCCRD), which was developed in 2009, and formalise key data reporting mechanisms through participatory technical working groups.
The system is considered good practice as it establishes the regular tracking of GHG emissions across a wide range of sectors and is in line with the international BUR requirements for MRV.