Addition of Dr. Schwartzman strengthens environmental representation and voice in the Reserve’s offset program

LOS ANGELES, CA – The Climate Action Reserve, the premier offset registry for the North American carbon market, announced that Dr. Stephan Schwartzman, Director for Tropical Forest Policy at the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), has been elected to its Board of Directors. The addition of Dr. Schwartzman to the Reserve Board further strengthens involvement from the environmental community in the growing voluntary carbon market.

“We are very pleased and honored to welcome Dr. Schwartzman to the Climate Action Reserve Board of Directors. As the Reserve continues to grow and become globally respected as a leader in forestry project protocols, Dr. Schwartzman’s expertise and experience in developing strategies for forest conservation will add much value to current and potential forest programs in the carbon market,” said Linda Adams, Chair of the Climate Action Reserve and Secretary of the California EPA.

Dr. Schwartzman has an illustrious career in sustainable forestry. Since the early 1980s, he has worked with communities in the Amazon region to recover, protect and conserve millions of hectares of traditional territory. Currently, Schwartzman leads EDF’s work with a consortium of Brazilian non-governmental organizations (NGOs), grassroots organizations, government agencies, indigenous and traditional communities to implement and protect tropical forest reserves. He initiated EDF’s efforts to create large-scale incentives for tropical countries to reduce their deforestation through the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

“It’s an enormous honor for me to join the Reserve Board. This is a critical moment for North America’s – and the world’s – climate and forests. The Reserve’s outstanding work on carbon accounting will be fundamental to protecting both,” said Dr. Schwartzman.

Dr. Schwartzman brings a unique international forestry perspective to the Reserve Board, which includes a diverse and balanced representation of government, business, academic and environmental leaders in the carbon market. The Reserve has earned the reputation as the premier carbon market leader in North America and has been recognized and supported by the State of California, the State of Pennsylvania and leading environmental organizations, including the EDF, Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and Sierra Club.

The Climate Action Reserve is a U.S. private nonprofit organization representing international interests in addressing climate change and bringing together participants from the government, environment and business sectors. It works to ensure environmental benefit, integrity and transparency in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions accounting and reduction and progressive movement in GHG emissions policy nationally and in the Western U.S. The Climate Action Reserve is parent to three programs, the California Climate Action Registry, Climate Action Reserve and Center for Climate Action. As the subsequent organization of the California Climate Action Registry, the Climate Action Reserve continues building on the California Registry’s reputation as a respected and internationally recognized leader in climate change issues. For additional information, please visit www.climateactionreserve.org.

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