The correct answer is (e). An important goal of IPCC Good Practice Guidance is to support the development of greenhouse gas estimates that can be readily assessed in terms of quality and completeness. It is good practice to implement QA/QC procedures in the development of greenhouse gas emission estimates to accomplish this goal.
Quality Control (QC) is a system of routine technical activities, to measure and control the quality of the emission estimates as they are being developed. The QC system is designed to:
(i) Provide routine and consistent checks to ensure data integrity, correctness, and completeness;
(ii) Identify and address errors and omissions;
(iii) Document and archive inventory material and record all QC activities.
QC activities include general methods such as accuracy checks on data acquisition and calculations and the use of approved standardised procedures for emission calculations, measurements, estimating uncertainties, archiving information, and reporting. Higher tier QC activities include technical reviews of categories, activity and emission factor data, and methods.
Quality Assurance (QA) activities include a planned system of review procedures conducted by personnel not directly involved in the inventory compilation/development process. Reviews, preferably by independent third parties, should be performed upon a finalized inventory following the implementation of QC procedures. Reviews verify that data quality objectives were met, ensure that the inventory represents the best possible estimates of emissions given the current state of scientific knowledge and data available, and support the effectiveness of the QC programme.
Luxembourg states in its NIR that it has not fully implemented a QA/QC system. Ukraine states that this is the first report in which it has fully implemented a Tier 1 QA/QC process (as well as some Tier 2). Slovakia is not explicit as to whether its QA/QC measures are in keeping with IPCC good practice New Zealand clearly indicates that it has implemented QA/QC measures in keeping with IPCC good practice. Greece implemented its QA/QC plan in 2004. Austria has implemented a QA/QC system in keeping with IPCC and ISO standards.