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.

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.

LOS ANGELES, CA – The Climate Action Reserve, the premier offset registry for the North American carbon market, adopted two new offset project standards that could lead to millions of metric tons of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions. Targeting the destruction of Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS), the U.S. ODS Project Protocol and the Article 5 ODS Project Protocol provide financial incentive for destruction of ODS in the U.S. and developing countries. Because ODS can be thousands of times more powerful than carbon dioxide (CO2) at trapping heat in the atmosphere, ODS offset projects may produce hundreds of thousands – or even millions – of offset credits.

“The ODS protocols are significant developments because they are the first protocols to provide co-benefits that protect both the ozone layer and the climate system. And because of the potency of ODS as greenhouse gases, projects developed under these protocols will provide substantial environmental benefits while generating offset credits to the carbon market. I applaud the work of everyone who was involved in the development of these landmark protocols,” said Linda Adams, Chair of the Climate Action Reserve Board of Directors and Secretary of the California Environmental Protection Agency.

ODS are used in a variety of applications, and as their name suggests, they have tremendously harmful effects on the ozone layer. They also are potent GHGs; some are more than 10,000 times more effective than CO2 at trapping heat in the atmosphere. While the ODS included in the protocols are no longer actively produced, their continuing presence in refrigeration equipment and insulation foams represent enormous potential for GHG emissions. Both the U.S. ODS Project Protocol and the Article 5 ODS Project Protocol address the destruction of ODS as the means of preventing emissions. The U.S. ODS protocol includes refrigerants and foam blowing agents sourced from the U.S. The Article 5 ODS protocol includes refrigerants from “Article 5” countries, which are developing countries as defined under the United Nation’s Montreal Protocol.

“By eliminating the risk for ozone depleting substances to create GHG emissions, we are taking a tremendous stride in protecting our environment. The Climate Action Reserve’s two ODS project protocols establish strong and comprehensive standards for addressing the destruction of ODS. Bringing together financial incentives created by the carbon market with the environmental benefits that ODS offset projects will produce creates a win-win situation for both developed and developing countries,” said Viraj Vithoontien of the Environment Department at The World Bank.

Whether ODS originates from the U.S. or an Article 5 country, the substances are required to be destroyed in the U.S. or its territories, where destruction practices are closely regulated. If destruction of a substance is already required under the Montreal Protocol or U.S. law or it has not been phased out of production in the country of origin, it is not eligible for inclusion under the ODS protocols. Projects that qualify under the ODS protocols will be issued offset credits, Climate Reserve Tonnes (CRTs), for the quantity of ODS that would otherwise have been released over a 10-year period had they not been destroyed.

“The new Protocols will immediately mobilize projects and new investment, and will help leverage financing from voluntary and ultimately compliance GHG markets domestically and worldwide. EOS Climate looks forward to permanently preventing GHG emissions by implementing projects developed according to these new Protocols,” said Jeff Cohen, VP Science & Policy at EOS Climate Inc. EOS had originally submitted the concept for the ODS protocols to the Reserve. “From the start, we believed the Reserve would provide the most transparent, verifiable, and comprehensive framework ensuring the integrity of greenhouse gas reductions.”

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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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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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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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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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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SACRAMENTO, CA – The Climate Action Reserve, a nonprofit organization working to ensure environmental benefit, integrity and progressive movement in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions and policies, today announced Steven Corneli, Senior Vice President of Market and Climate Policy at NRG Energy, and Tim Profeta, Director of the Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions and Senior Associate Dean at Duke University, have joined the prominent climate leaders on the Reserve’s Board of Directors. The addition of Steven’s energy experience and Tim’s academic thought-leadership bring new perspectives to further diversify the environmental, finance and industry representation on the Reserve’s Board.

“As the implications of climate change are felt by communities and industries throughout North America, the Reserve is advancing climate solutions with an expanded Board that reflects the continent’s geographic diversity and varied perspectives,” said Linda Adams, Secretary of California EPA and Chair of the Climate Action Reserve. “I am confident Steve and Tim’s insight and expertise will greatly enrich the Board’s ability to guide the Climate Action Reserve as it produces regulatory-quality guidelines to ensure transparency and credibility in the development and verification of GHG emissions offset projects.”

Steven Corneli brings an extensive history of energy and climate policy experience to the Reserve. As NRG Energy’s Senior Vice President of Market and Climate Policy, he is responsible for developing and advancing the company’s positions on climate change policy and integrating emerging climate policies with NRG’s commercial, power development, and energy market activities. As a nationally recognized leader in energy policy, Steven has effectively built coalitions to design, strategize and advocate for climate policy legislation while driving NRG Energy to adopt a comprehensive and profitable plan for decarbonizing its portfolio.

“As the U.S. moves to develop and implement an integrated national approach to address global warming, the availability of high quality offsets will be crucial to environmental and economic sustainability,” said Steve. “As a leading developer of standards to assure both the quality and commercial viability of offsets, the Climate Action Reserve has an important role to play in the transition from regional and voluntary emission reduction efforts to a unified market-based national policy. I am excited by the opportunity to participate with the Climate Action Reserve during this important transition.”

Tim Profeta offers an academic perspective to the Reserve Board with his exceptional and distinguished career in environmental policy research and advocacy. As the Director of the Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions at Duke University, he addresses the world’s most pressing environmental problems through scientifically grounded nonpartisan research, analysis and education. Tim leads the Institute’s efforts to develop innovative, practical and effective solutions to share with decision makers in the public and private sectors. Prior to the Institute, Tim served as Counsel for the Environment to Senator Joseph Lieberman and while in this position was the principal architect of the Lieberman-McCain Climate Stewardship Act of 2003.

“There has never been a more pivotal moment than ours in the history of climate change. And the role of offsets — for both environmental protection and economic protection — has only grown more critical to the emergence of a federal policy in the U.S. The Climate Action Reserve is helping us build an offsets regime that we can have confidence in and that will serve these twin goals. I am delighted to take on this role with the organization,” said Tim.

The Climate Action Reserve Board of Directors reflects the diverse interests in the carbon market and includes distinguished leaders in finance, industry, environmental policy and now academia. The varied representation throughout sectors ensures that the Reserve’s programs benefit from widespread expertise. In addition to Steve and Tim, Chair Linda Adams is supported on the Board by:

• Randy Armstrong, Environmental Issues Director for Shell Oil Company
• Kathleen Brown, Head of Public Finance for the West, Goldman Sachs & Co
• Jeffrey Kightlinger, General Manager, Metropolitan Water District of Southern CA
• Dr. Adrían Fernández Bremauntz, President, National Institute of Ecology, Mexico
• Peter Liu, Founder & Vice Chairman, New Resource Bank
• Nancy McFadden, Senior Vice President of Public Affairs, PG&E Corporation
• Peter M. Miller, Senior Scientist, Natural Resources Defense Council
• Fabian Nuñez, Former Speaker Emeritus, California State Assembly
• Jan Schori, General Manager, Sacramento Municipal Utility District
• Carl Zichella, Regional Director, Sierra Club

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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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