How accurate is the data?

Snapshot data is developed according to the Global Protocol for Community-Scale Greenhouse Gas Inventories (GPC). The data is accurate enough to support decision making to reduce emissions in your region. Snapshot is largely generated from top down or state level data on greenhouse gas emissions and emissions sources and will accurately identify the largest emissions sectors so that you can build awareness, advocate for next steps and target your activities.

The Global Protocol for Community-Scale Greenhouse Gas Inventories (GPC) outlines accounting and reporting principles in an ordered hierarchy. Snapshot has been designed to follow these guiding principles when selecting, and modelling data for profiles. These principles, in the recommended order, are:

1. Relevance
2. Completeness
3. Consistency
4. Transparency
5. Accuracy

Adhering to GPC reporting principles includes all emissions released in Australia and ensures that they aren’t included twice. Every emissions source is accounted. Using the GPC principals also enables collation of profiles across boundaries and supports collaborative efforts of local, state and federal governments and other stakeholders.

In application, this hierarchy means that a higher-level, Tier 1 modelled data set is preferred over a local Tier 2 data set that is incomplete. For example, data provided directly from Distribution Network Service Providers (DNSPs) such as electricity use according to postcode, has traditionally been understood by many council stakeholders as an accurate source of data. However, if some data is missing (for example, missing a postcode or excluding select industrial customers) then it is an incomplete data set and cannot be considered compliant with GPC. Furthermore, the lack of transparency around DSNP data frequently leads to large energy users or entire suburb’s energy usage being removed from data sources without any notification. In this case, state-wide electricity usage data that is scaled down to the municipal level by population or economic activity is considered more complete. In line with the GPC guidelines, this modelled data is used instead of the local DNSP data.

This Snapshot team will continue to seek out sources of local Tier 2 GPC compliant data for incorporation into future iterations.