Measurement, Reporting and Verification

The generic term for the chain that turns physical activity into a number other people can rely on: measuring or estimating emissions, reporting them in a defined format, and having them checked by someone independent. MRV operates at several levels — national greenhouse gas inventories, installation-level systems under an ETS, and product- or consignment-level data for instruments such as CBAM. Institutional arrangements, data systems and accredited verifiers matter as much as methodology.

Why it matters in the room

MRV is unglamorous and decisive. Whether a country can take part in Article 6, demonstrate progress towards its NDC, or have its domestic carbon price recognised elsewhere depends on MRV capacity long before it depends on political will.