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From the May 2008 issue
Volunteer Climate Registry Records GHG Emissions and Tracks Efforts to Reduce Them
A new reporting standard to help track the emissions of greenhouse gases in North America was announced by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). The Climate Registry, a national, non-profit partnership of which New York is a board member, released its General Reporting Protocol, which provides a comprehensive guideline for how greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions will be measured, verified and reported by participants in the registry's voluntary program.
Registry participants gain access to software and technical assistance that will help them track their progress in reducing greenhouse gas emissions
The Climate Registry provides a consistent way for companies, governments and organizations to count and report their emissions from greenhouse-gas sources under their control and to track progress toward meeting goals of reducing greenhouse-gas emissions. By enrolling in the registry, participants benefit by gaining access to user-friendly, web-based software and technical assistance in developing their greenhouse-gas inventories.
All New York businesses, non-profit organizations, universities and municipalities are encouraged to join the registry and begin measuring and reporting GHG emissions. Seventy-three leading corporations, non-profit organizations, cities and counties are reporting their greenhouse gas emissions to the registry already.
General Reporting Protocol
The General Reporting Protocol is significant because it defines the methodology that will be used to calculate, verify and publicly report GHG emissions. Correct data in the registry will ensure that emissions-reduction programs are consistent across borders and industry sectors and that responsibility for controlling emissions is shared equitably. The new protocol will ensure that the emissions data are accurate, complete, consistent and verified. The protocol document incorporates public comments from workshops conducted throughout North America.
The registry tracks both direct emissions, such as from transportation fleets, and indirect emissions from electricity and steam generation
Entities reporting to the registry agree to calculate both direct and indirect GHG emissions. Direct emissions include those from on-site combustion, manufacturing processes and transportation fleets. Emissions associated with electricity and steam consumption are the only indirect emissions required to be reported. However, reporters to the registry also are encouraged to register additional, indirect emissions. Reporters measure and report emissions of carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide (N2O), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs) and sulfur hexafluoride (SF6).
Currently, DEC is in the process of joining the registry as a reporting member and will voluntarily report the agency's emissions data. Organizations that join the registry as reporters before May 1, 2008 will be considered "founding reporters" and will receive continued recognition for their outstanding environmental leadership in measuring and publicly reporting their GHG emissions on a voluntary basis.
