As part of its commitment to strengthening greenhouse gas (GHG) reporting in Europe, the PARIS Project organized a series of meetings between researchers and national inventory compilers from eight European countries. These sessions were designed to improve understanding of how atmospheric science and top-down emission estimates can complement official national inventories.

Purpose and Scope of the Meetings

The meetings brought together national GHG inventory experts and members of the scientific community for structured exchanges on the use of atmospheric measurements and inverse modelling in the context of reporting obligations under the UNFCCC.

Researchers presented methods, preliminary findings, and potential applications of top-down data. In turn, inventory teams shared feedback shaped by their operational and regulatory responsibilities. This dialogue helped clarify how scientific outputs can be made more relevant and applicable for reporting, while respecting existing methodological and legal frameworks.

Key Themes from the Feedback

Feedback gathered during the meetings reflected strong engagement and a shared interest in collaboration. Inventory compilers valued the exchanges and highlighted several recurring points:

• Clarity and accessibility – Presentations and datasets should be tailored to non-specialist audiences within the inventory community to ensure practical usability.
• Data compatibility – Outputs need to align with existing reporting formats, such as Common Reporting Tables (CRTs), and clearly explain methodological assumptions.
• Timing and workflow – Scientific results are most useful when they are delivered in sync with national reporting cycles and planning horizons.
• Mutual understanding – Both communities benefit from deeper insight into each other’s contexts: researchers manage scientific uncertainty, while inventory teams work within policy and regulatory requirements.

The meetings also highlighted the importance of continuity and trust-building. Regular, structured exchanges were seen as essential to ensure that scientific advances can be gradually and effectively integrated into official systems.

Looking Ahead

The feedback serves as a roadmap for improving coordination between science and policy. It underscores the value of early and continuous engagement when introducing new methods into regulated reporting frameworks.

Based on the outcomes of these sessions, the PARIS project will continue to foster collaboration between the scientific and inventory communities. Suggested next steps include developing training materials, standardizing data delivery, and conducting follow-up meetings to assess progress and share updates.

The Inventory Compiler Meetings under the PARIS Project demonstrate the constructive potential of dialogue between science and policy. By creating space for feedback and mutual learning, the project is helping ensure that emerging atmospheric methods are introduced in a way that strengthens national inventories rather than complicating them.

For both researchers and policymakers, these exchanges illustrate how interdisciplinary collaboration can improve transparency, consistency, and the overall robustness of GHG reporting in Europe—supporting the goals of the Paris Agreement’s Enhanced Transparency Framework.