The Synthesis and Assessment(S&A) stage of the review process is a preliminary comparative review of all Parties’ submissions for potential errors (primarily quantitative errors). The S&A focuses on data submitted in the CRF tables, especially making comparison of Parties’ implied emission factors and emissions trends.

The S&A stage has two parts: Part I is made up of comparative tables of data across all Parties. Part II is a detailed preliminary analysis of potential problems by sectors and cross-cutting issues for individual Party submissions that is provided for further consideration in the individual review stage. For the most part, this preliminary analysis is based on cross-Party comparisons of different inventory parameters (e.g., IEFs, emissions) using a statistical analysis tool (Outliers Detection Tool) and the presence or absence of other information.

Each Party is allowed to provide comments to the Secretariat on Part I and on their own Part II report.   Part I it is published on the UNFCCC website. These comments are a potentially valuable input for your review. The S&A stage is performed by the UNFCCC Secretariat.

It is important to remember that the individual review stage should go beyond the issues identified in the S&A stage. Each item in Part II of the S&A should be investigated, taking in to account the comments provided by each Party. However, there may be serious issues that the S&A has not identified. It is the purpose of the individual review stage (and therefore your work as a reviewer) to identify and investigate whether any such serious issues exist.

Click here to go to the UNFCCC Synthesis and Assessment report