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Verify industrial emissions

Last updated on March 20, 2026

Industrial operations in B.C. must meet verification requirements for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. These rules ensure accuracy, consistency, and compliance with prescribed methodologies.

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Verification obligations

Verification requirements apply to:

  • Participants of the B.C. Output-Based Pricing System (B.C. OBPS). 
    • Verification must follow strict provincial standards
    • Emission and compliance reports are required
  • Reporting operations not in the B.C OBPS emitting 25,000 tonnes carbon dioxide equivalent (COâ‚‚e) or more each year. 

B.C. OBPS participants

Verification is mandatory for all operations regulated under the B.C. OBPS. As part of the annual report, operations must have their emissions and compliance reports verified. Verification must be by an accredited third-party verification body. 

All verification statements for B.C. OBPS participants must follow the B.C. OBPS Annual Report Verification Statement Template (2025 version coming soon).

For further details, please review the B.C. OBPS Program and Reporting Guidance (2025 version coming soon).

Reporting Operations not in the B.C. OBPS

Some operations are not regulated under B.C. OBPS. If they emit 25,000 tonnes COâ‚‚e or more each year, they must verify their annual emissions report under GGIRCA.

Verification must continue for three consecutive reporting cycles after emissions fall below 25,000 tonnes COâ‚‚e. After this period, verification is no longer required if emissions consistently remain below the threshold. 

All verification statements for Reporting Operations under GGIRCA must follow the Verification Statement Template for Reporting Operations not eligible for the B.C. OBPS (DOCX, 152KB).

For further details, please review section 27 of the Greenhouse Gas Emission Reporting Regulation (GGERR).

Guidelines for verification

For comprehensive details on verification requirements, verification bodies should refer to:

For guidance on verification, industrial operators and verification bodies must also consult the Verification Guidance for Industrial Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reporting and the B.C. OBPS (PDF, 859.5KB).

Submission process

An accredited third-party verification body must: 

  • Review annual reports
  • Conduct site visits when needed
  • Make sure reports meet the requirements

At the end of the verification process, the verification body must complete the verification statements. They can do so using the above verification template.

Operators must submit the completed statements through the B.C. Industrial Emissions Reporting System (BCIERS).

Submit your statement: Launch BCIERS

Submission deadline

Verification statements must be submitted by May 31 each year. These statements cover emissions from the previous reporting year.

Key elements of verification

Verification requirements are set out in GGIRCA and GGERR. Reporting and Regulated Operations must follow these requirements.

The table below outlines the main elements of the verification process. It also describes the standards that apply to verification bodies. 

Verification requirements and standards

Element

Description

Verification statement

The verification statement is a written declaration by a verification body that attests to the veracity of the submitted reports from operators and to whether the report conforms to the requirements of GGIRCA and GGERR.

The statement must be signed by the lead verifier and by an independent peer reviewer not involved in the verification process (sections 31, 33, 38 and 39 of GGERR).

Materiality threshold

Verification requires confirmation that the assertions made in the emission reports are 'materially correct.' This means that any deviations in the reported data must fall within an acceptable margin of error, referred to as a materiality threshold.

The verification body must ensure that deviations do not compromise the integrity of the report or its compliance with the regulation (sections 31 and 38 of GGERR).

Verification process

The verification process must include:

  • A review of relevant records
  • A risk assessment 
  • A verification plan (including a sampling plan)
  • At least one site visit
  • An evaluation of the quantification of emissions and production against regulatory requirements
  • An assessment of the sources and magnitude of potential errors (section 30(2) of GGERR).

Accreditation standards

Verification must comply with the international standard, ISO 14064-3, and be performed by verification bodies accredited under ISO 14065 through a program developed under ISO 17011. Verification bodies must be accredited by a member of the International Accreditation Forum. For operations in B.C., verification bodies must also hold accreditation from either the Standards Council of Canada (SCC) or the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).

Operators are encouraged to consult the directories of accredited verification bodies to ensure the verification body has the appropriate scope for GHG validation and verification. These directories include the SCC Accredited Organizations and the ANSI National Accreditation Board Greenhouse Gas Validation and Verification Bodies.

Threat to independence or conflict of interest

Verification bodies must maintain independence from both the operation being verified, and the Province, to ensure objectivity and impartiality. Each verification statement must include a conflict-of-interest report, as outlined in the current verification statement template (sections 33 and 41 of GGERR).

Verification outcome

Reporting and Regulated Operations are responsible for monitoring and quantifying their emissions, maintaining their records and preparing their emission report such that a verification body can provide, with reasonable assurance, a positive and unqualified verification statement (sections 31 and 38 of GGERR).

Statements may be verified as:

  • Unmodified
  • Modified
  • Adverse
  • Disclaimed

An 'unmodified' statement confirms the report is materially accurate and fully compliant with regulations. A 'modified' statement indicates the report is materially correct, but not fully prepared or quantified as required. An 'adverse' statement means the report is materially incorrect and non-compliant. A 'disclaimed' statement reflects insufficient evidence to assess the report's accuracy.
Verification of supplementary and corrected reports

Verification is required for supplementary and corrected reports based on specific conditions, including materiality thresholds, changes in reported emissions or if ordered by the director under GGIRCA. For supplementary reports, verification depends on whether emissions exceed defined thresholds for total or attributable emissions. For corrected reports, verification is required if emissions surpass certain limits or as directed by the regulator (sections 29 and 36 of GGERR).

Verification bodies must use the verification statement templates for supplementary or corrected reports, but need to complete only the sections relevant to the updates or corrections.

Contact information


GHGRegulator@gov.bc.ca