The Climate Action Reserve adopts first rice cultivation guidelines for GHG offset projects

SACRAMENTO, CA – The Climate Action Reserve, North America’s largest and fastest growing carbon offset registry, adopted the first version of its Rice Cultivation Project Protocol today in a move that creates opportunities for California rice farmers to participate in carbon markets and to also become involved in California’s groundbreaking cap-and-trade program. State officials have indicated agriculture protocols, such as the Rice Cultivation Project Protocol, are the next standards they may look at adopting into the state’s compliance market. That will open the door for rice farmers to sell their earned carbon offsets to California companies that are required by law to reduce their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

The State of California and the global community have identified cropland agriculture as having the potential to reduce significant amounts of greenhouse gases from being emitted into the atmosphere. We are very pleased to adopt the Rice Cultivation Project Protocol and provide a tool for farmers to get incentives to reduce emissions,” said Linda Adams, Chair of the Climate Action Reserve Board of Directors.

The Rice Cultivation Project Protocol provides a clear standard for how to reduce GHG emissions by changing water and residue management practices in rice farming and how these reductions can be measured and rewarded with offset credits.

The protocol also represents several firsts for the Reserve. It is the organization’s first cropland agriculture protocol and the first to use a bio-geo-chemical model, which emulates soil processes. It is also the Reserve’s first protocol to provide guidelines for individual farmers to aggregate their lands and work together to develop an offset project. This is intended to make the protocol more accessible and flexible for rice farmers.

As with all Reserve protocols, the Rice Cultivation Project Protocol was developed with guidance and input from a diverse group of stakeholders involved in rice farming. Significant contributions were made by the California Rice Commission and the Environmental Defense Fund, who had jointly drafted a previous standard for rice cultivation offset projects.

Election of Dr. Barnes re-emphasizes organizational focus on activities in Mexico

SACRAMENTO, CA – The Climate Action Reserve, North America’s largest and fastest growing carbon offset registry, announced that Dr. Francisco Barnes Regueiro, President of the National Institute of Ecology (INE) for the Government of Mexico, has been elected to its Board of Directors. Dr. Barnes is successor to Dr. Adrián Fernández Bremauntz as INE President and assumes the seat previously held by Dr. Fernández on the Reserve Board. Dr. Barnes’ active involvement with the Reserve will help guide the organization’s ongoing activities in Mexico, including continued protocol development.

“Dr. Barnes’ participation on the Reserve Board of Directors is a true asset to the growth and development of the organization, and I am extremely honored to welcome him. We continue focusing on helping create market opportunities in Mexico. Dr. Barnes can provide insightful advice and a unique perspective to our ongoing activities in the country, as well as offering input on other cross-border initiatives,” said Linda Adams, Chair of the Climate Action Reserve Board of Directors and former Secretary of the California Environmental Protection Agency.

Prior to his appointment as President of INE, Dr. Barnes was a partner at McKinsey & Company, where he specialized in developing strategies for low-carbon growth, adaptation to climate change, energy and other sustainable development issues, such as water pollution and solid waste. He served as part of the company’s global leadership in sustainability and energy practices and advised governments, NGOs and private and public sector companies throughout Latin America in the areas of energy, climate change, water, oil and other key issues. Dr. Barnes also served as a visiting professor at Boston University, has received numerous awards for his academic work and is a published author.

“The work the Climate Action Reserve has already done in Mexico is remarkable, and I am looking forward to becoming involved with such an innovative, open, and action-oriented organization. Its protocols provide means and incentive for reducing GHG emissions in a way that uses the power of the market to achieve our environmental goals. I am also excited to be involved in pioneering new ways that we can use the Reserve’s work to achieve greater environmental benefit through work between our two countries, both at a federal and particularly at a subnational level, including the upcoming California cap-and-trade program,” said Dr. Barnes.

Please visit the Climate Action Reserve website to learn more about the organization and its Board of Directors.

New Board seat strengthens relationship between agriculture industry and carbon market

LOS ANGELES, CA – The Climate Action Reserve, North America’s largest and fastest growing carbon offset registry, announced that Cynthia Cory, Director of Environmental Affairs for the California Farm Bureau Federation, has been elected to its Board of Directors. Ms. Cory’s seat on the Board expands the Board’s areas of expertise to cover the agriculture industry and brings a perspective that is expected to be especially valuable as the Reserve continues development of new standards for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the agriculture sector and bringing the farm community into the carbon market.

“Ms. Cory is very highly regarded in the agriculture community both here in California and nationally. I am extremely honored to welcome her to the Reserve Board of Directors. She adds tremendous depth and diversity to the Board, and her experience, knowledge and unique perspective will be invaluable as we continue our work in setting high quality standards for reducing greenhouse gas emissions,” said Linda Adams, Secretary of the California Environmental Protection Agency and Chair of the Climate Action Reserve Board of Directors.

During her twenty one years with the California Farm Bureau Federation, Ms. Cory has worked on a wide variety of state and national agriculture issues. Currently, her focus is air quality and climate change, and she also works on biotechnology and invasive species/pest prevention, eradication and control issues. Before joining the Farm Bureau, she worked for several private and public organizations on short- and long-term agronomic research projects throughout Africa.

“I am grateful for this opportunity to provide an agricultural perspective to the Board discussions and review process. All Reserve protocols are based on high standards and scientific rigor, but it is important in dealing with a living agricultural system that growers can incorporate GHG reducing practices into their operations in as cost-effective and practical manner as possible while continuing to produce a diverse and beneficial supply of agricultural products. I want to see the ongoing Reserve agricultural protocol work proceed in a timely and cohesive manner,” said Ms. Cory.

Please visit the Climate Action Reserve website to learn more about the organization and its Board of Directors.

Two new Board seats add depth and experience in US and Canadian federal policy affairs

LOS ANGELES, CA – The Climate Action Reserve, North America’s largest carbon offset registry, announced that Elizabeth (Betsy) Moler, a former Chair of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Energy under President Clinton, and James Mack, Head of the British Columbia Climate Action Secretariat in the Ministry of Environment, have been elected to its Board of Directors.

I am extremely honored to have the privilege of welcoming Mr. Mack and Ms. Moler to the Reserve Board of Directors,” said Linda Adams, Secretary of the California Environmental Protection Agency and Chair of the Climate Action Reserve Board of Directors. “Mr. Mack has a strong list of accomplishments in implementing British Columbia’s climate change goals, and Ms. Moler is a nationally recognized energy policy expert with unparalleled experience in the energy industry and federal government affairs. The experience and depth they each bring to the Board will be invaluable in leading the growth of the Climate Action Reserve.

Ms. Moler most recently served as Executive Vice President, Government Affairs and Policy for Exelon Corporation where she led the company’s team on climate change policy issues. Prior to that, she established a very notable career in government service, serving as a staff member on Capitol Hill for 20 years. She was Senior Counsel for the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources from 1976 to 1988 and was appointed by Presidents Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton as a Member of FERC from 1988 to 1997. In 1993, President Clinton designated her as Chair of FERC and in June 1997, he appointed her as the Deputy Secretary, U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).

I was delighted to be asked to join the Board of Directors of the Climate Action Reserve. The organization has successfully demonstrated the importance of providing market-based approaches to finding ways to address climate change and curbing greenhouse gas emissions. Having served both as a regulator and a utility executive, I hope that my experience will assist the organization in developing creative, cost-effective approaches to offset standards and protocols,” said Ms. Moler.

As the Head of the British Columbia Climate Action Secretariat in the Ministry of Environment, Mr. Mack is responsible for leading the province’s initiatives to achieve its greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets. Prior to joining the Secretariat, Mr. Mack worked for the Government of Canada on environmental, social and economic development issues in Ottawa.

Please visit the Climate Action Reserve website to learn more about the organization and its Board of Directors.

The Climate Action Reserve continues to uphold rigorous standards in offset projects with the release of version 3.0 of its Livestock Project Protocol

Los Angeles, CA  – The Climate Action Reserve, North America’s largest carbon offset registry, released version 3.0 of the Livestock Project Protocol, providing updated guidelines for livestock operations to participate in the carbon market.  Significant amounts of methane, which is over 21 times more potent to the atmosphere than carbon dioxide, can be produced at livestock operations.  With the updated livestock protocol, operations have more opportunities to reduce their methane emissions and earn offset credits that can be sold in the carbon market.

The Livestock Project Protocol ensures the integrity and long-term environmental benefit of installing manure biogas control systems at livestock operations, including dairy cattle and swine farms.  With this protocol, operations that capture and destroy methane from livestock manure before it is released into the atmosphere receive carbon offset credits that can be traded in the carbon market

The protocol ensures that livestock operations can effectively reduce greenhouse gases and thrive while earning offset credits in a carbon market,” said Linda Adams, Secretary of the California Environmental Protection Agency and Chair of the Climate Action Reserve Board of Directors.

Version 3.0 of the protocol includes revised guidance on determining the greenhouse gas (GHG) assessment boundary of projects.  This includes clear details on the standard stocking rates and new options for complying with the reporting period and verification requirements to reduce verification costs.  All offset projects registered with the Climate Action Reserve are required to undergo independent, third-party verification.

Livestock manure management provides a key opportunity to reduce significant methane emissions, while at the same time generating revenue for the livestock operator. Version 3.0 of the Livestock Project Protocol recognizes that opportunity and ensures that livestock manure management projects are developed, quantified and verified with the highest level of integrity,” said Gary Gero, President of the Climate Action Reserve.

The Climate Action Reserve also released version 2.0 of the Mexico Livestock Project Protocol, which provides guidance for livestock offset projects in Mexico.  To date, livestock projects registered with the Climate Action Reserve have reduced 151,903 metric tons of CO₂e from the atmosphere, equivalent to taking over 29,000 passenger vehicles off the road annually. The original livestock protocol was adopted by the Climate Action Reserve Board of Directors in June 2007 for projects in the United States.

Please visit the Climate Action Reserve website to access the Livestock Project Protocol Version 3.0, as well as all public comments regarding the protocol and the submitted responses to the comments.

Version 3.2 of the Climate Action Reserve’s Forest Project Protocol continues to ensure integrity of forest offset projects

Los Angeles, CA  – The newest version of the Forest Project Protocol from the Climate Action Reserve, North America’s largest carbon offset registry, has been officially released for use in the carbon market.  Updates in version 3.2 of the protocol create stronger standards for ensuring integrity and long-term environmental benefit in forest offset projects across the U.S.  While other offset project types prevent carbon dioxide (CO₂) and other greenhouse gases (GHGs) from entering the atmosphere, forest offset projects are unique because they remove CO₂ from the atmosphere, in a sense “reversing” emissions that already happened.

The Forest Project Protocol Version 3.2 enriches the carbon landscape by providing new opportunities for participation in the carbon market.  Forests are powerful tools in our fight against climate change, and owners of small forests now have the option of aggregating their lands to create an offset project and participate in the carbon market,” said Linda Adams, Chair of the Climate Action Reserve Board of Directors and Secretary of the California Environmental Protection Agency.

The Forest Project Protocol is the Reserve’s flagship methodology and provides complete, consistent, accurate and conservative standards to account for forest carbon storage.  Significant updates in version 3.2 of the protocol include clarifications to the requirements for establishing a baseline for Improved Forest Management (IFM) projects and the introduction of guidelines for aggregating forest projects.

Version 3.2 of the Forest Project Protocol recognizes the tremendous opportunity of forests to sequester carbon dioxide and ensures that forest projects are developed, quantified and verified with the highest level of integrity,” said Gary Gero, President of the Climate Action Reserve.

The original forest protocol was adopted by the Climate Action Reserve Board of Directors in June 2005 with applicability specific to the State of California and was expanded to cover all of the U.S. in September 2009. Currently, forest projects registered with the Climate Action Reserve have absorbed 1,735,436 metric tons of CO₂e from the atmosphere.

Please visit the Climate Action Reserve website to access the Forest Project Protocol Version 3.2, as well as all public comments regarding the protocol and the submitted responses to the comments.

First place claimed by Arkansas, followed by California, New York, Texas and Alabama

Los Angeles, CA  – Annually, carbon offset projects in Arkansas reduce enough greenhouse gases (GHGs) from the atmosphere to equal the amount of emissions produced by 322,380 passenger vehicles over an entire year, according to the Climate Action Reserve, North America’s largest carbon offset registry.  Another way to measure the amount is to think of it in terms of the carbon removed from the atmosphere by growing 43,232,026 tree seedlings for 10 years.  By reducing such a significant amount of GHGs through projects registered with the Climate Action Reserve, Arkansas has earned the status of reducing more GHG emissions than any other U.S. state.  Joining Arkansas at the top of the list are California, New York, Texas and Alabama.

GHGs contribute to global warming by keeping heat, or radiative energy, in the atmosphere, and scientists point to a direct correlation between increased amounts of GHGs and extreme weather, such as this summer’s scorching temperatures and record-setting flooding.  Carbon offset projects are activities that prevent GHGs from entering the atmosphere, making them climate change solutions that have an impact on the environment right now.

One of the most valuable benefits of high quality offset projects is that they reduce greenhouse gases in the atmosphere today.  While we work on transitioning to a clean energy economy and reducing the amounts of emissions we produce, offset projects are providing true benefit to the environment.  They are a way to take action and see results now,” said Gary Gero, president of the Climate Action Reserve.

Ranking a close second after Arkansas, California is well known around the world for its pioneering environmental initiatives and its landmark climate change and energy bill, AB 32.

Every year, offset projects in California reduce the same amount of GHGs as taking 303,182 passenger vehicles off the road for a year.  Coming in third is New York, a member of the first regional group to implement a cap-and-trade program, the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI).  Annually, offset projects in New York reduce enough GHGs to equal the emissions generated by 124,520 passenger vehicles every year.

The southern states are not as well known as their coastal counterparts for being environmental leaders.  However, on an annual basis, offset projects in Texas reduce the equivalent of taking 83,052 passenger cars off the road for a year.  Alabama offset projects reduce the same amount of GHGs that would be achieved if 39,518 passenger vehicles were removed from the road for a year.

Some of the states on this top five list will be a surprise to people.  It’s important to note that businesses, organizations and people living in these states not only support reducing emissions through emission reduction projects but they are financially benefiting from these projects by earning offset credits that can be traded in the carbon market.  These people have realized opportunities to use a market-based approach and financial incentives to take action against our most pressing global challenge today – climate change,” said Gero.

Offset projects from these five states are all registered with the Climate Action Reserve.  The projects include destroying ozone depleting substances, using forests to remove carbon and methane capture from landfills, livestock farms and coal mines.  The projects comply with the most rigorous and comprehensive standards for offset projects and have been independently reviewed by accredited third party verification bodies.  Information on these projects and their verifications are publicly accessible at www.climateactionreserve.org.

Actual amounts of GHGs removed by projects in each state are listed in the chart below.

* CO2e (carbon dioxide equivalent) is a measure for comparing carbon dioxide with other GHGs; it is calculated by multiplying the metric tons of a gas by the appropriate global warming potential (GWP)

The Climate Action Reserve is a private nonprofit organization representing international interests in addressing climate change and bringing together participants from the government, environment and business sectors.  As the premier carbon offset registry in North America, it works to ensure environmental benefit, integrity and transparency in the carbon market.  It establishes high quality standards for quantifying and verifying greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction projects, oversees independent third-party verification bodies, issues carbon credits generated from such projects and tracks the transaction of credits over time in a transparent, publicly-accessible system.  By ensuring that GHG reduction projects provide true environmental benefit and earn high quality offsets, the Climate Action Reserve is creating a trusted and valuable commodity and bringing credibility and efficiency to the carbon market.  For more information, please visit www.climateactionreserve.org.

Climate Action Reserve protocol opens the door for universities, municipalities, restaurants, grocery stores to turn food waste into potential revenue streams

Los Angeles, ca  – The Climate Action Reserve, the largest and fastest growing offset registry for the North American carbon market, adopted a new standard that encourages the reduction of greenhouse gases (GHG) from a significant methane source in the U.S. – food waste.  The Organic Waste Composting (OWC) Project Protocol provides guidelines for developing carbon offset projects and generating offset credits, which can be traded in the carbon market, by diverting food waste from landfills to composting operations.

With only an estimated 2.5% of food waste being currently composted, it is the least recycled material of all potential recyclables.  Food waste that is not composted typically gets deposited in a landfill where it rapidly decomposes under anaerobic conditions and creates significant amounts of methane, which is over 21 times more potent to the atmosphere than carbon dioxide.

“It is surprising for many people when they discover the environmental damage that can be done by the food we throw away.  The Organic Waste Composting Project Protocol is a powerful tool for addressing the situation.  It creates a financial incentive to mitigate the significant amounts of methane emitted from food waste, and it provides an affordable and realistic opportunity for people outside of the traditional carbon market to become involved,” said Linda Adams, Chair of the Climate Action Reserve Board of Directors and Secretary of the California Environmental Protection Agency.

Since food waste is produced by virtually every American, the sources for it are vast and include municipalities, schools, grocery stores, restaurants, food wholesale distributors and public venues.  Potentially, each of these sources could participate in the OWC protocol by diverting its waste from the landfill to a composting operation.

“The Organic Waste Composting Project Protocol helps cement the idea that food waste isn’t garbage anymore,” said Dr. Sally Brown, Research Associate Professor at the University of Washington’s College of the Environment.  “People are looking for things they can do to benefit the environment, and food waste diversion is affordable and can have a large impact.  Making compost improves the atmosphere by reducing the amount of methane emitted but using compost also improves the quality of soil.  It is like the soil taking vitamins.”

The OWC protocol is the twelfth protocol adopted by the Reserve.  Many carbon market participants and observers have repeatedly predicted the Reserve’s offset credit, the Climate Reserve Tonne (CRT), is the most likely to be adopted as a pre-compliance credit for regulated cap-and-trade programs in California and on a federal level.  Adding another protocol to the suite of standards allows the generation of more high quality credits for these programs.

Prestigious award presented to Nancy Ryan (CPUC), Bay Area Air Quality Management District and TerraPass

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – From its annual conference, Navigating the American Carbon World, the Climate Action Reserve announced its 2010 Climate Action Champion Award recipients.  The awards are bestowed upon individuals and organizations that have demonstrated public leadership in climate change and commitment to substantial greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions.  The 2010 award recipients are:

Nancy Ryan, Commissioner at the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC): While at the CPUC, Ryan has played a key role in developing policies in areas of climate change, electricity market design and renewable energy.  In the course of these efforts, she has helped to build and enhance the CPUC’s working relationships with its sister energy agencies, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, State of California Legislature and Governor’s Office.  Prior to joining the CPUC, Ryan was Senior Economist and Deputy California Director at Environmental Defense Fund.

Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) and Jack Broadbent, Executive Officer: BAAQMD has been a California Climate Action Registry member since 2003.  Since launching its Climate Protection Program in 2005, it has been at the forefront of the climate protection movement in the San Francisco Bay Area.  Among its activities are providing training and funding for local governments to calculate and reduce their GHG inventories, administering a $3 million grant program to reduce GHG emissions in the Bay Area and developing global warming curriculum for fourth and fifth grade students.

TerraPass:  TerraPass has held a pioneering role in educating the public about carbon footprints and reducing emissions.  The San Francisco-based company also works directly with carbon reduction projects, providing revenue to dairy farms, landfill gas installations and other projects that yield carbon credits.  As a project developer that has been a model for adhering to only the most comprehensive and rigorous project standards, it has helped numerous companies and individuals offset their emissions.

“This year’s winners all demonstrate the highest standards of leadership through their unwavering dedication and perseverance in striving toward climate change solutions.  They have specifically demonstrated a highly commendable commitment towards reducing pollution and helping others to accomplish this.  We are very proud to honor their work today,” said Linda Adams, Chair of the Climate Action Reserve and Secretary of the California EPA.

The awards were presented during the welcome address at the conference.  Recipients received the iconic Climate Action Champion heavyweight belts.

“Each year, it is inspiring to recognize our new class of Climate Action Champions.  We have worked with Commissioner Ryan, Jack Broadbent and the BAAQMD and the team at TerraPass for many years, and during that time, we have watched them work tirelessly towards achieving outstanding climate change goals.  As a global community, we still have a considerable fight ahead of us to combat global warming, but with people like them in our corner, it truly provides inspiration that we can win this battle,” said Gary Gero, President of the Climate Action Reserve.

Rapid growth of offsets registry demonstrates the strength and success of the North American carbon market

LOS ANGELES, CA – The Climate Action Reserve, the premier offset registry for the North American carbon market, today announced it exceeded the milestone of 100 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction projects. The milestone demonstrates the ability for the carbon market to successfully utilize a collaboration between the business and environmental communities to mitigate climate change. It also reflects these communities’ confidence in the quality and value of the Reserve’s offset credits, known as a Climate Reserve Tonnes (CRTs).

“With 100 projects submitted into the Reserve program, we can be confident that significant momentum is underway to effectively mitigate climate change through the carbon market,” said Linda Adams, Chair of the Climate Action Reserve Board of Directors and Secretary of the California Environmental Protection Agency. “The Reserve’s rigorous accounting and verification requirements, consistent performance standards and transparent public-participation process provide strong environmental safeguards for the credibility of project activities.”

The 100 project milestone also signifies the Reserve’s ability to effectively and efficiently administer its scalable program during a time of rapid growth and increased demand. The program was launched in May 2008 with just two forest projects in California. Today, the Reserve has projects listed and registered in 38 states. These projects were developed according to the Reserve’s protocols, which currently address GHG emissions reductions from forest, landfill methane, livestock methane, urban forest, coal mine methane and organic waste digestion projects throughout the nation. The Reserve also has landfill and livestock protocols for Mexico, which enable emissions reduction projects in that country to earn CRTs.

2/100 PROJECTS

The Reserve’s protocols ensure that GHG reductions are real, additional, verifiable, enforceable and permanent. Credited emissions reductions generate high quality offsets, which are above business-as-usual practices, regularly monitored and verified, subject to penalties for non-compliance and provide ever-lasting benefits to the environment. Each CRT offset credit represents one metric ton of carbon dioxide equivalent reduced or sequestered from the atmosphere. Information on issued CRTs and projects are publicly accessible through the Reserve website.

“The Reserve’s offset program provides an efficient means for project developers to qualify and register projects, as well as excellent transparency for carbon offset buyers,” said Erin Craig, President of Carbon Management Services, TerraPass. “We saw the value very early, and have submitted a dozen projects to date. As we continue our on-the-ground work addressing climate change, we expect to submit many more. The high value of CRTs reflects the credibility of our projects as well as the Reserve program.”

The Climate Action Reserve’s offset program has kept pace with the growing interest in offsets and has quickly progressed into the premier carbon market leader. The Reserve has been recognized and supported by the State of California, the State of Pennsylvania and leading environmental organizations, including the Environmental Defense Fund, Natural Resources Defense Council and Sierra Club.

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Adoption of two new protocols expands the types of high quality offset credits issued in the US voluntary carbon market

SACRAMENTO, CA – The Climate Action Reserve Board of Directors unanimously adopted the Organic Waste Digestion (OWD) and Coal Mine Methane (CMM) Project Protocols and broadened the reach and diversity of offset projects that can be registered with the premier offsets registry. The two protocols provide financial incentives for implementing activities that help mitigate climate change and that go beyond usual business practices in the solid waste and coal mine sectors.

“With the adoption of the Organic Waste Digestion and Coal Mine Methane Project Protocols, the Climate Action Reserve now offers eight protocols for use in generating high quality offsets. In dealing with the urgent issue of climate change, we need credible, practical solutions that truly provide benefit to the environment. All of the Reserve protocols, including the two newest ones, provide comprehensive tools that allow us to work together in addressing climate change and generate immediate benefits to the environment,” said Linda Adams, Chair of the Climate Action Reserve Board of Directors and Secretary of the California Environmental Protection Agency.

Food waste decomposes rapidly in landfills and is a major source of methane emissions, which are over 21 times more potent to the atmosphere than carbon dioxide. Currently, less than three percent of food waste in the U.S. is diverted. The OWD Project Protocol is the nation’s first protocol to incentivize the diversion of food waste from landfills. It provides a standardized approach for quantifying, monitoring and verifying greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions from organic waste diversion projects. Instead of organic waste being buried in landfills, where it will produce and emit methane, it is diverted into anaerobic digesters. The protocol also allows for the capture and destruction of methane at industrial wastewater treatment facilities.

“Diverting food scraps from landfills to anaerobic digesters not only directly reduces potent greenhouse gases, but also provides clean fuels and renewable energy to help the state meet its climate goals,” said Nick Lapis, Policy Associate, Californians Against Waste.

Coal mining is another source of methane. The amount of methane emitted from underground mines is not proportionate to production; it is estimated that underground mines account for over 60 percent of total methane emissions from coal mining. The CMM Project Protocol provides a standardized approach for quantifying, monitoring and verifying GHG reductions from projects that destroy methane at active underground coal mines. This first version of the protocol covers ventilation air methane (VAM) projects and non-pipeline drainage projects. The protocol incentivizes coal mines to destroy or utilize coal mine methane that is currently removed from mines and vented into the atmosphere for safety reasons.

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Adoption of the Forest Project Protocol version 3.0 paves the way for forest projects earning carbon credits and mitigating climate change

LOS ANGELES, CA – With the adoption of the landmark Forest Project Protocol version 3.0, forest projects across the U.S. are now poised to make a highly anticipated entrance into the carbon market while encompassing a defined and measured role for mitigating climate change. The previous version of the protocol generated significant attention for forest offset projects in California, and it is expected version 3.0 will generate attention nationally and internationally, especially as global communities look to the power of forests and forest management to effectively address climate change.

“I commend members of the forest workgroup, general public and Climate Action Reserve staff for the outstanding levels of commitment, dedication and time they made towards this tremendous accomplishment. The Forest Project Protocol is a groundbreaking document that will be looked at around the world. Getting the protocol adopted was just one step in the process. Our next critical step is to get the protocol into practice and used in the real world,” said Linda Adams, Chair of the Climate Action Reserve Board of Directors and California Secretary for Environmental Protection Agency.

All Climate Action Reserve protocols are developed through a transparent process that includes public comment periods and collaboration with a multi-stakeholder workgroup. The Forest Project Protocol workgroup included representatives from diverse and numerous stakeholders in the forest sector. Version 3.0 of the protocol is the sum of nearly two years of work from this workgroup and over 300 pages of submitted public comments, and it exists as a living document. The end goals were to create guidelines that provide accurate and comprehensive direction for accounting greenhouse gas (GHG) offsets from forest projects and realistic implementation in real world practices.

“Forests play a critical role preserving environmental quality and mitigating climate change. But they have to be managed carefully and responsibly. That’s why it’s critical to have a rigorous standard that can be applied nationally. The Forest Project Protocol has the advantage of being developed jointly by diverse groups with interest and expertise in forests. Environmental Defense Fund enthusiastically endorses the adoption of the Forest Project Protocol which will encourage a host of projects that provide multiple environmental benefits,” said Eric Holst Managing Director of the Center for Conservation Incentives, Environmental Defense Fund.

Several other companies have already indicated they are ready to utilize the Forest Project Protocol in their business activities. The Climate Action Reserve has been notified of potential forest projects in several states across the country that will be submitted for listing.

“As a leading investor in forest carbon projects, Equator LLC offers its strong support for the adoption of the Forest Project Protocol by the Climate Action Reserve. This protocol represents an important advancement in forest offset development and will drive investment into critical early action projects,” said Eron Bloomgarden, President, Environmental Markets of Equator LLC.

Like all Climate Action Reserve protocols, the Forest Project Protocol version 3.0 provides guidance for development of high quality offset projects and resulting credits. High quality is defined as being real, additional, permanent, verifiable and enforceable. Key updates to the Forest Project Protocol version 3.0 include:

• Expanded applicability so the protocol may be used with projects throughout the U.S.
• Standardized requirements and improved guidance for estimating baselines for reforestation, improved forest management and avoided conversion projects
• An option for registering reforestation projects on lands that have recently undergone a significant natural disturbance
• Explicit requirements and mechanisms to ensure permanence of credited GHG reductions
• Improved requirements for more comprehensively addressing leakage
• Requirements and guidance for accounting for carbon in harvested wood products
• Refinement of the definition of “natural forest management”

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Premier offset registry adopts two new protocols that will bring high quality offset credits from Mexico into the US carbon market

SACRAMENTO, CA – Making its first expansion into international carbon offset projects, the Climate Action Reserve adopted the Mexico Landfill Project Protocol version 1.0 and the Mexico Livestock Project Protocol version 1.0. The protocols, which are available for use now, provide new means for bringing international offset credits into the U.S. market and building the number of credits available in the current voluntary market and potentially in regulated markets. They also ensure these international offsets coming into U.S. markets pass the Big Five Test of being real, permanent, additional, verifiable and enforceable.

“There is tremendous potential for offset reduction projects in Mexico to play a very notable role in the American carbon market. The Climate Action Reserve’s Landfill and Livestock Project Protocols for Mexico represent a significant opportunity for Mexico to generate high quality offsets according to rigorous standards, thereby having a real effect on addressing climate change, and I am pleased they have been adopted,” said Adrián Fernández Bremauntz, President of the National Institute of Ecology (INE) in Mexico.

The protocols allow landfill and agriculture methane destruction projects in Mexican states to be registered with the Reserve, the premiere offset registry for the North American carbon market. They were developed in response to a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed in August 2008 by the six Mexican border states, the State of California, Pacific Gas & Electric Company and the Climate Action Reserve. Under the MOU, the signatories agreed to work cooperatively to develop quantification and verification protocols for greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction projects in Mexico and that the Climate Action Reserve would develop protocols applicable to offset projects in Mexico.

Methane is over 21 times more destructive to the environment than carbon dioxide. Under the protocols, methane is captured and destroyed in practices that are additional to business as usual.

“Offset credits from international greenhouse gas reduction projects are going to be essential to the U.S. reaching its national climate change goals and mitigating climate change’s destructive and irreversible effects. It is critical that these offsets meet comprehensive standards for high quality, and that they do not falsely claim to reduce emissions. I am proud to see the Climate Action Reserve’s protocols for Mexican landfill and livestock projects establishing the early groundwork for this,” said Linda Adams, Chair of the Climate Action Reserve Board of Directors and Secretary of the California Environmental Protection Agency.

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Milestone is predictive of future Reserve development and carbon market trends

LOS ANGELES, CA – The Climate Action Reserve, the premier offset registry for the North American carbon market, announced it has issued over one million carbon offset credits, known as Climate Reserve Tonnes (CRT). This marks a milestone accomplishment for the Reserve, which was launched in May 2008, and serves as an indicator of the program’s future growth and what role it may play in the development of carbon markets.

Currently, 1,271,714 CRTs have been issued from six registered projects, and another 54 projects have been submitted or listed with the Reserve. The projects are located in a total of 26 states across the U.S. And, 101 project developers, traders, brokers, retailers, verification bodies and other buyers are account holders.

“The success of this offsets program is tremendous and signals the important role the Climate Action Reserve will play once California and the federal government establish a cap-and-trade program,” said Linda Adams, Chair of the Climate Action Reserve Board of Directors and Secretary of the California Environmental Protection Agency. “This shows important movement in the knowledge the public has about climate change and the motivation to change their environmental impact.”

The numbers also are indicative of how the Reserve may influence future market trends and fulfill offset needs in the voluntary market and regulated cap-and-trade programs.

“A cap-and-trade program along the lines of the Waxman-Markey bill would create annual demand for several hundred million tonnes of emissions reductions by 2015 with offset credits such as those created by the Reserve playing an important role. Hence, passing the one million offset credits issued is a crucial milestone in the development of the market,” said Milo Sjardin, Head of North America for New Carbon Finance.

The Reserve issues CRTs only to offset projects that are registered with it. The registered status means a project was inspected by an independent, third-party verification body and found to adhere to the criteria established in the respective Climate Action Reserve protocol and this verification finding and project documentation were reviewed and accepted by the Reserve. The Conservation Fund’s Big River/Salmon Creek Forests project was one of the recent registered projects that pushed the total issued CRT tally beyond one million and also is the largest Reserve project to date with 366,827 CRTs issued for 2008.

“As the fate of our earth’s climate takes on increasing urgency, we must take consistent, concerted action,” said Chris Kelly, California program director for The Conservation Fund, a national nonprofit. “At The Conservation Fund, we believe that partnering with leaders such as the Climate Action Reserve is the best path forward. The Reserve’s high standards for verification ensure that its projects make a real and lasting positive impact on our environment.”

The Conservation Fund is dedicated to advancing America’s land and water legacy and has actively worked towards bettering forest management to create environments beneficial for all – fish, forests, local communities and the climate.

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New York landfill becomes first carbon reduction project to earn credits outside of California

LOS ANGELES, CA – The Climate Action Reserve, CCAR’s premiere carbon offset registry for the US carbon market, announced that it has issued its first carbon credits for a project located outside of California. These credits, known as Climate Reserve Tonnes (CRT), also represent the first to be issued under the Climate Action Reserve’s Landfill Project Reporting Protocol. This is a milestone expansion of its program of credits, which meet the highest standards for quality and integrity.

The credits were issued to the Development Authority of the North County (DANC) Landfill Gas Destruction Project. The project, located in Rodman, New York, is a sanitary landfill that combusts and generates electricity from food waste, garden and park waste, wood, paper and textiles, plastics, concrete, metal and other inert waste. Detailed information regarding the project is available on the Climate Action Reserve website.

“We are pleased to see the Reserve has issued credits to the DANC landfill project,”

said Ron Luhur, Carbon Markets Specialist for Environmental Defense Fund (EDF).

“After rigorously reviewing more than 70 projects against our quality criteria for credible offsets, the DANC is one of 11 projects featured on CarbonOffsetList.org, EDF’s independent guide to credible offset projects. These selected projects were reviewed by a committee of independent experts and thought leaders in science, engineering and public policy.”

The DANC Landfill Gas Destruction Project qualifies for CRTs under the Landfill Project Reporting Protocol, which provides guidance to quantify and report GHG emission reductions associated with installing a landfill gas collection and destruction system at landfill operations. Like all of the Climate Action Reserve’s protocols, the Landfill Project Reporting Protocol was developed through a thorough, transparent process and upholds its projects to the highest standards. The quality and credibility of the protocol help influence CRTs’ high market selling prices.

“We are extremely pleased to announce the first CRTs issued both outside of California and under the Landfill Project Reporting Protocol. The DANC project represents the first of many upcoming projects that are going to expand the Reserve’s geographic reach and influence on a wide variety of high-quality, environmentally-sound carbon reduction projects,”

said Linda Adams, Chair of the CCAR Board of Directors and Secretary of the California Environmental Protection Agency.

“The project also represents a significant achievement toward our goal of 1.5 million real, permanent, and additional credits issued within the Reserve’s first year of operation.”

The Climate Action Reserve is a program of the California Climate Action Registry that provides accurate and transparent measurement, verification and tracking of greenhouse gas reduction projects and their inventories of Climate Reserve Tonnes (CRTs), assuring a high degree of environmental integrity in the voluntary carbon reduction market. For additional information, please visit http://www.climateregistry.org/reserve.

The California Climate Action Registry is a private nonprofit organization committed to solving climate change through emissions reporting and reduction. It serves as a voluntary greenhouse gas (GHG) registry for entity-wide emission inventories and also establishes protocols for GHG emission reduction (offset) projects through its Climate Action Reserve program. The protocols are created through a rigorous, transparent process and are widely regarded as among the highest quality standards for offset projects. The Climate Action Reserve also accredits and oversees independent verifiers and tracks the transactions of project offset inventories, adding confidence and credibility to the voluntary carbon market. The accuracy, transparency and integrity of all of the California Registry’s standards have earned it the reputation as a respected and internationally recognized leader in climate change issues.

The California Climate Action Registry was originally formed by the State of California in 2001 and is headquartered in Los Angeles, California. For additional information, please visit www.climateregistry.org.