Climate Registry Protocol

Get to Know the Climate Registry Protocol

A number of policies, technical advisories and procedures are outlined in the General Reporting Protocol, also known as the Climate Registry Protocol issued in 2008. The Climate Registry is composed of a number of US states, Canadian provinces, Mexican states and tribes. Its primary purpose is to receive information relating to carbon production and greenhouse gas emission, which it collects on a voluntary basis.

The Climate Registry protocol covers the emission of the five primary greenhouse gases – carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, methane, perfluorocarbons, hydrofluorocarbons and sulfar hexafluoride. It will expect reports categorized according to type of gas and source and itemized per facility. Direct and indirect emissions, also known as scope one and scope two must be reported separately and organizations have the option of reporting other greenhouse gases or other emissions, such as scope three.

The Climate Registry was established within North America. It has been highly successful in its first few years of existence and it is estimated that participating states, tribes and provinces account for nearly 80% of the population.

One of the primary requirements of the Climate Registry protocol is that emissions data must be verified by a third party. This is to help ensure and maintain the credibility of the entire process and ensure that the information gathered may be used as the basis for future decisions The protocol determines how to verify emissions and is expected to outline industry by industry methods and procedures in due course.

Climate Registry Protocol and the Climate Registry

While emissions reporting has been voluntary it will soon become mandatory and if legislation passing through the U.S. Congress is developed, will also form the basis for federal action. Forward thinking companies have joined the Climate Registry as they anticipate the introduction of mandatory reporting and governmentally-initiated, market-driven forces which will dictate a clear understanding of their own position.

In a potentially short space of time, greenhouse gas emissions and carbon will move from the subject of a voluntary disclosure to that of a controllable, tradable commodity with all the economic implications that that will bring.

Climate Registry Protocol Corresponding to EPA Programs

The Environmental Protection Agency is planning to introduce a mandatory greenhouse gas emissions reporting rule and it is likely that this will be adopted before any legislation seeking to adopt a federal “cap and trade” scheme commences. Advocates of the plan maintain that it is long overdue while detractors say that it will impose additional requirements on an already beleaguered consumer base.

It is expected that the rule will affect some 13,000 businesses, representing a significant proportion of the total greenhouse gas emissions within the United States and is tentatively scheduled for implementation in 2010. Through a joint agreement, the Climate Registry protocol data will be interchanged with that of the EPA program.

About Verisae

Verisae helps measure, manage and reduce equipment and energy costs including the related business and environmental impacts of carbon emissions. The Sustainability Resource Planning (“SRP”) software platform improves operational efficiency, protects brand integrity and helps ensure regulatory compliance for distributed enterprises across many industries. Verisae delivers a broad range of sustainability solutions to dozens of clients globally with thousands of daily users including an extended network of third-party suppliers. Verisae’s integrated sustainability platform actively tracks millions of assets across thousands of sites worldwide.

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