2007 Achievements

In 2007, the California Climate Action Registry enjoyed many successes and achievements as a result of the strong support of its members and the hard work and dedication of its staff. This report reflects both our high level of accomplishment and serves as a foundation for further success in 2008


 


Voluntary Carbon Market Development

The California Climate Action Registry was very successful in 2007 in the development of voluntary project protocols and the implementation of a program for the registration of project-based emission reductions to ensure quality and integrity in the voluntary offset market.


Registry Board Adopts New Project Protocols

  • Livestock Project Reporting and Certification protocols were adopted by the Board in June 2007. This marked the completion of a year-long process by staff and our first foray into the national voluntary carbon market. These are performance-based greenhouse gas (GHG) quantification protocols for voluntary project activities that can be used by dairy farms and livestock and swine operations throughout the U.S.
  • Landfill Project Reporting and Verification protocols were adopted by the Board in November 2007. These are for quantifying GHG emission reductions from methane capture and combustion projects at U.S landfill operations. A complementary protocol for recycling/composting activities is currently in development.


    • ARB Adopts California Registry Forestry Protocols
    The California Air Resources Board (ARB) formally adopted the California Registry’s forest sector project protocols in October, becoming the first agency in the U.S. to adopt protocols for voluntary carbon offsets. Designed to address forests’ unique capacity to both store and emit CO2, the protocols provide guidance on measuring the carbon that is captured and stored, as well as on maximizing the amount captured. The California Registry also reestablished a Forestry Working Group to identify additional opportunities for applying the forestry protocols, including consideration of the unique circumstances of publicly-owned and managed lands.


    Project Registry Developed
    Significant progress was made in building a robust project registry to verify, register, and track GHG emission reductions from voluntary project activities. Two conservation-based forest management projects, Pacific Forest Trust’s Van Eck forest and The Conservation Fund/Nature Conservancy’s Garcia River forest, were completed in 2007 using the California Registry’s forestry protocols and their registration in February 2008 represents the first reduction tons to be certified by the California Registry. The project registry will assign unique serial numbers for each certified GHG reduction ton and will ensure that such reductions are not double-counted or double-sold, and will track each transaction to final retirement. The Board approved a business plan, software service, and marketing strategy for the project registry that will be launched in March 2008 as the Climate Action Reserve and will begin the re-branding of the California Registry. A software provider has been selected and an on-line system for tracking reductions is expected to be operational early in March 2008.


    Registry Assists with Launch of PG&E ClimateSmart Program
    In 2007, Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) launched its ClimateSmart program, through which PG&E’s residential and business customers can choose to help fund environmental projects aimed at removing GHG from the air or avoiding the emissions in the first place. All projects funded through this program are required to meet the California Registry’s protocols, and PG&E relies on the Registry’s staff for technical support and assistance in the program.


    California Registry Becomes Founding Member of the Offset Quality Initiative
    The California Registry became a founding member of a coalition of experts to educate and inform policy makers and the public on the elements that ensure quality and integrity in the offset market. This group includes representatives of several highly influential and well-respected non-profit organizations such as the Pew Center on Climate Change, the Climate Group, the GHG Experts Network, the Climate Trust, and the Environmental Resources Trust.


    Support for Governmental Programs

    The California Climate Action Registry continued to be a strong partner to the State of California and other governmental agencies, providing knowledge and expertise to help guide their efforts to address global warming.


    Registry Assists the State of California with Implementation of AB 32
    The California Registry assisted the ARB in the development of regulations for mandatory reporting of GHG under AB 32, the California Global Warming Solutions Act. The California Registry’s protocols served as the foundation upon which the ARB regulation was developed. The ARB consulted closely with the California Registry throughout the process and staff participated in all of ARB’s public workshops. The mandatory reporting regulations were adopted by the ARB at their December 6th board meeting; specific acknowledgement of the importance and role of the California Registry was made. We are very proud of the support and partnership that we have developed with the Air Resources Board on these issues.


    The Climate Registry Launched
    Working with other regional NGO partners, the California Registry built and launched The Climate Registry to support entity reporting of GHG emissions across North America. Modeled on and relying primarily on staff from the California Registry, The Climate Registry was established as an independent 501(c)3 non-profit organization in May 2007. Comprised of 39 U.S. states and the District of Columbia, 6 Canadian provinces, 2 Mexican states, and 3 Indian tribes, The Climate Registry has recruited more than 50 reporting members and has developed reporting and verification protocols, reporting software, a website, and related program components.


    Technical Assistance Provided to the State of New Mexico
    As part of an effort in New Mexico to develop mandatory reporting guidelines for GHG emissions, the California Registry served as technical advisors to the New Mexico Environment Department and participated in New Mexico’s public workshops, providing expert witness testimony during hearings to adopt New Mexico’s rule. Staff also advised on development of reporting regulations and tools.


    Education and Outreach

    A key element of the mission of the California Climate Action Registry is to raise awareness among policy makers, businesses, and the public on issues related to GHG emissions measurement and climate change and to help spur GHG emission reductions. This goal was fulfilled through numerous significant activities in 2007.


    Registry Led Delegation to UN Climate Change Conference in Bali
    In December, the California Registry hosted a delegation to the UN Climate Change Conference in Bali, Indonesia that included more than 30 Registry members along with numerous representatives from the State of California. The California Registry presented 10 conference panels including a U.N. recognized Official Side Event, moderated by California Registry Interim President Gary Gero, which featured Secretaries Adams and Chrisman and Chair Nichols speaking on California’s ambitious global warming goals. Attendance at the conference enhanced the California Registry’s visibility and credibility on an international scale and helped to establish and strengthen working relationships with and between our members, other environmental and business organizations, states, provinces and nations.


    Annual Conference a Great Success
    In March 2007, the California Registry held its 5th Annual Conference, “Navigating the New Carbon World,” in Santa Barbara, California. Having great experts and high-level keynote speakers and panelists created an exciting and educational conference that exceeded expectations. Response to the conference was unprecedented with more than 600 attendees participating.


    The Cool Planet Project Launched
    In 2007, the California Registry and Southern California Edison (SCE) successfully launched the Cool Planet Project, joining forces to jointly market Registry membership and the utility’s energy efficiency programs. In promoting this effort, staff conducted numerous workshops, association conference calls, presentations at conferences, and seminars for more than 200 large corporate and local government customers and SCE representatives that highlighted the relationship between energy efficiency and climate change. The program led to many new memberships, with over 70 organizations that were contacted through the program ultimately becoming members of the California Registry.


    Registry Hosted Numerous Workshops, Seminars, and Conferences
    The California Registry continued its strong outreach and education efforts, hosting a wide variety of activities to provide members and the public with tools to promote best practices in GHG reporting, verification and reductions, including:


    Climate Change Education

  • “Climate Change 101” workshop, offered in partnership with SAIC
  • Earth Day tree planting event with Tree People
  • Dinner honoring NRDC President Frances Beinecke
  • Regular climate policy conference call series for members
  • Bi-weekly new member orientations and CARROT software trainings
  • Annual Members Meeting, including best practices workshops
  • Climate policy study trip to European climate change centers for 30 state government and business leaders

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    Verification
  • “Prepare for Certification” workshops, attended by approximately 100 individuals
  • Three-day GHG Verifier training course, offered in partnership with FuturePerfect Sustainability
  • Lead Certifier training workshops, resulting in accreditation of 30 new Lead Certifiers

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    Recognizing Climate Change Leadership
    In a continuing effort to provide incentives for taking action on climate change, the California Registry awarded or renewed Climate Action Leader status for 62 organizations that publicly reported their certified GHG emissions inventory. The California Registry also hosted its fourth annual Climate Action Champion awards, presenting Austin Energy, former Assemblywoman Fran Pavley, and then-LADWP Commissioner Mary Nichols with the now famous heavyweight champion belts. Staff also presented CARROT (Climate Action Registry Recognizing Our Team) awards to Ian Carter of IETA, Kathryn Bickel, Maric Munn of UCOP, Eileen Tutt of Cal/EPA, and Doug Wickizer of Cal-Fire.


    Building and Enhancing Recognition of the California Registry
    The California Registry expanded its productive working relationships with a broad network of reporters at media outlets worldwide as well as with media relations staff at member corporations, government agencies, and non-profit organizations. These relationships enhanced our ability to obtain and amplify positive press for the California Registry. Additionally, California Registry staff spoke at more than 100 conferences, seminars and meetings to provide updates on programs and to share thinking on best practices in developing a carbon-constrained economy.


    Organizational Development

    2007 saw tremendous membership growth for the California Climate Action Registry and many significant changes to the organization, including the departure of Founding President Diane Wittenberg who led the Registry from initial concept to international recognition.


    Membership Continues to Grow
    Membership in the California Registry continued to grow rapidly in 2007, increasing by 105 members despite concerns that recruitment might significantly slow after the explosive growth in December 2006 to beat the deadline specified in AB 32. Staff successfully met the resulting growth in member demand for training, technical support, and education. At the time of writing, 214 members, of whom 158 were reporting for the first time, had implemented a reporting and certification program to meet the Registry’s program requirements.