LOS ANGELES, CA – The Climate Action Reserve, an environmental nonprofit organization and North America’s premier carbon offset registry, presented the Project Developer of the Year Awards to carbon offset project developers that achieved the most emissions reductions and had the most carbon offset project activity during the past year. The awards recognize organizations for their leadership in advancing climate solutions, in strengthening carbon markets, and in achieving emissions reductions that are real, additional and permanent.
“We are very fortunate to work with outstanding carbon offset project developers that dedicate their skills and resources to the development and implementation of successful carbon offset projects,” said Craig Ebert, President of the Reserve. “Today, we are recognizing project developers that made the largest contributions to the growth, strength and stability of the carbon market in 2016 by registering the most credits, registering the most projects, and submitting the most projects. It takes great vision and resolve to pursue groundbreaking innovations in carbon reductions and sequestration, and we thank the Passamaquoddy Joint Tribal Council, 3Degrees, and Sierra Pacific Industries for their leadership in reducing emissions to benefit our climate.”
Passamaquoddy Joint Tribal Council, in recognition of generating the most offset credits in 2016 with 3.8 million credits issued. The Passamaquoddy Tribe Improved Forest Management Project is a 90,000 acre Improved Forest Management project in Maine developed to the California Compliance Offset Protocol for U.S. Forests. The primarily spruce-fir and northern hardwoods forestland supports sustainable timber production and provides for a variety of cultural, recreational and wildlife objectives.
“The Passamaquoddy Tribe Improved Forest Management Project builds upon our sacred commitment to the protection of our forest resources and creates unique training and employment opportunities for our tribal members,” said Ernie Neptune, Passamaquoddy Tribal Forestry Supervisor. “This project is in line with the sustainable forestry activities that we have practiced since time immemorial but is unique in how it allows forest landowners to benefit from an innovative program designed to curb carbon emissions. We are thrilled to receive this recognition for our efforts to fund forest conservation and provide economic development for our people.”
3Degrees, in recognition of registering the most projects in 2016 with 13 unique projects. 3Degrees is a certified B Corp that works with organizations to build and implement customized renewable energy and carbon mitigation strategies. 3Degrees, previously Origin Climate, registered 13 projects in 2016 – 10 compliance livestock projects, one voluntary livestock project, and two voluntary landfill projects in 10 different states across the U.S. 3Degrees has been developing carbon offset projects with the Reserve since 2008, during which it has registered 20 landfill and livestock projects and been issued over three million credits.
“3Degrees is honored to receive the Project Developer of the Year award from the Climate Action Reserve,” said Mike Mondik, Vice President – Carbon Markets. “We listed our first project in 2008 and now we manage 20 projects on the Reserve generating consistent volumes of offset credits that provide environmental and fiscal benefits. Our company is committed to leveraging markets as a force for good and pride ourselves on being the honest and trusted voice in helping clients develop and implement strategies to fight climate change.”
Sierra Pacific Industries, in recognition of submitting the most projects in 2016 with eight Improved Forest Management projects submitted. Sierra Pacific Industries is a third generation, family-owned forest products company based in Anderson, California. The firm owns and manages 1.9 million acres of timberland in California and Washington. The eight projects are all located in California and cover 153,000 acres. The projects are expected to sequester emissions that would otherwise have been released into the atmosphere while providing important benefits to forest habitat and wildlife.
“As California’s largest timber company, we understand and appreciate the importance of sequestering additional carbon through innovative forestry practices,” said Cedric Twight, California Regulatory Affairs Manager. “We are committed to managing our lands in a responsible and sustainable manner to protect the environment while providing quality wood products and renewable power for consumers. We’re honored to be recognized for our forest carbon project efforts, which is a reflection of our commitment to sustainable forestry.”