Climate Action Reserve Honors the 2014 Mary D. Nichols Climate Action Champion Award Recipients

Prestigious annual award recognizes outstanding efforts to advance climate solutions

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – The Climate Action Reserve, an environmental nonprofit organization and North America’s premier carbon offset registry, announced the recipients of the 2014 Mary D. Nichols Climate Action Champion Awards during the Navigating the American Carbon World conference. The awards are presented annually in recognition of outstanding leadership and deep commitment to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. For their efforts in the “fight” against climate change, the Reserve awards these exemplary recipients with a special championship belt. The awards are named in honor of Mary Nichols, Chair of the California Air Resources Board and Founding Chair of the California Climate Action Registry – the predecessor and legacy program of the Climate Action Reserve.

“The Mary D. Nichols Climate Action Champion Awards recognize those who have made significant and lasting contributions to address climate change. We are honored to present the awards to two individuals who have worked tirelessly to develop and implement smart, innovative and effective climate change solutions. Throughout her extraordinary career, Wendy James has been a pioneer in environmental initiatives – working to bring groups together, influence the development of environmental regulations and stand as a strong advocate for high environmental standards. Québec is truly a global leader in environmental initiatives and has standards even more stringent than those in California. Jean-Yves Benoit was instrumental and tireless in the development of Québec’s program, its linkage to California and its involvement with the Western Climate Initiative,” said Gary Gero, President of the Climate Action Reserve.

The 2014 champions are:

Wendy James, CEO, The Better World Group – Wendy James is CEO and founder of The Better World Group, a recognized leader in political and environmental strategy, regulatory policy development and advocacy, communications planning and execution, and coalition building and management. With 30 years of expertise in media, government, corporate and nonprofit sectors, Ms. James works with environmental groups, government organizations and progressive businesses to develop unique strategies and solutions for air quality, climate change, advanced transportation, clean energy technologies, livable communities and other leading environmental policy issues.

“It’s a particular honor to be recognized by this organization that I helped to nurture from its earliest days and to receive an award named after Mary Nichols, someone I consider a friend and mentor and whom I’ve respected for decades,” said Ms. James.

Jean-Yves Benoit, Director, Carbon Market Division, Ministry of Environment, Québec – As the Director of the Carbon Market Division for Québec’s Ministry of Environment, Mr. Jean-Yves Benoit is leading the team that is responsible for both the development and implementation of Québec’s cap and trade system and its linkage with California’s program. He represents the government of Québec at the Western Climate Initiative (WCI) and is a member of the WCI Board of Directors, a non-profit organization created to support the implementation of WCI’s Regional Cap-and-Trade Program.

“I am honored to accept this award in recognition of Québec’s leadership in tackling climate change. Global warming is a worldwide issue that requires international collaboration and local action. We sincerely hope that our climate initiatives and those of our partners like California will inspire other North American governments to join in our efforts,” said Mr. Benoit.

Top Developers of Carbon Offset Projects Honored by the Climate Action Reserve

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – The Climate Action Reserve, an environmental nonprofit organization and North America’s premier carbon offset registry, presented the inaugural Project Developer Awards to carbon offset project developers that achieved the most emissions reductions, registered the most carbon offset projects, and demonstrated outstanding leadership and innovation in its work during the past year. The awards recognize organizations for their leadership in advancing climate solutions, in strengthening carbon markets, and in achieving emissions reductions that are real, additional and permanent.

“All of the project developers that we are recognizing here today have contributed to the growth, strength and stability of both the voluntary and compliance carbon markets,” said Gary Gero, President of the Reserve. “A great deal of education, commitment, and resources are necessary to develop and implement successful carbon offset projects that adhere to our regulatory-quality standards and earn high quality offsets. We are honored to recognize the organizations that have made the largest and most innovative contributions to the carbon market in 2013. Their efforts have led to significant emissions reductions to benefit our climate.”

The 2014 Project Developer Award recipients are:

The Yurok Tribe, in recognition of generating the most Climate Reserve Tonnes and Registry Offset Credits in 2013 with 1,245,840 credits issued. The Yurok Tribe Sustainable Forest Project is a 21,240.5-acre improved forest management project in Northwest Humboldt County, California. The Tribe is implementing a lighter touch harvest strategy that will maintain a continuous tree canopy and preserve and enhance the ecological and cultural value of the property. The property has cultural importance to the Yurok Tribe, as it sits within the Yurok Ancestral Territory. Currently, the largest Tribe in California with more than 5,000 enrolled members, the Yurok Tribe’s major initiatives include: the Hoopa-Yurok Settlement Act, dam removal, natural resources protection, sustainable economic development enterprises and land acquisition.

“Setting aside these lands for carbon production has made it possible for the Tribe to invest more heavily in watershed restoration projects, focused on increasing biodiversity and improving water quality in the creeks where our sacred salmon spawn,” said Yurok Tribe Chairman, Thomas P. O’Rourke Sr. “We are bringing these forests back into balance, so that fish, wildlife and plants will thrive. We appreciate the recognition from the Climate Action Reserve for our work.”

Camco International Group, in recognition of registering the most projects in 2013 with 12 unique projects registered. In 2013, Camco registered 11 livestock projects and one landfill project with the Reserve. With more than 20 years of successful project delivery experience, Camco works to develop, construct and operate clean energy and emission reduction projects that contribute to a sustainable future. Camco collaborates with industries, equipment providers and investor groups to create emissions-to-energy projects and maximize sustainable energy production across a range of sectors – biogas, renewable energy, energy efficiency and land use.

“Camco is delighted to receive the first Project Developer of the Year award from the Climate Action Reserve. Since listing our first project in 2008 we now manage 21 projects on the Reserve generating consistent volumes of CRTs on an annual basis. Our ability to list, register and manage a large number of projects demonstrates the hard work, expertise and focus of our team in North America. We look forward to continuing to work with the Reserve to expand and optimize our portfolio, particularly in its role as an Offsets Project Registry under California’s cap-and-trade program,” said Charles Purshouse, Vice President – Renewables & Environmental Markets, Camco Clean Energy.

Zanker Road Resource Management, in recognition of outstanding leadership and innovation in its work. Last September, Zanker Road Resource Management registered its Z-Best Food Waste Composting organic waste composting (OWC) project with the Reserve. Located near Gilroy, California, the project aerobically composts food and food soiled paper waste, thus preventing methane emissions that would normally be released from a landfill. The processed compost is sold to landscapers and farmers as a soil amendment. To date the project reduced 42,649 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions. In addition to its composting facility, Zanker operates three recycling facilities. Through its aggressive recycling and composting efforts, Zanker diverts more than 80 percent of waste they receive from landfilling.

“We are thrilled at receiving the Project of The Year award for our innovative efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and reduce the impacts of climate change,” said Richard Cristina, President of Zanker.

Public comment period open for draft Urban Forest Project Protocol Version 2.0 – workshop March 26 – comments due April 25

Errata and Clarifications released for the Coal Mine Methane Project Protocol Versions 1.1 and 1.0

Organic Waste Composting stakeholder consultation on grocery store SSO waste documentation options has been rescheduled for Wednesday, March 19 at 10:00 am

Mexico Environment Undersecretary joins Climate Action Reserve Board of Directors

Undersecretary for Environmental Policy and Planning Rodolfo Lacy Tamayo strengthens the Reserve’s commitment to advancing environmental initiatives in Mexico

SACRAMENTO, CA – Rodolfo Lacy Tamayo, Mexican Undersecretary for Environmental Policy and Planning, has been elected to the Climate Action Reserve Board of Directors. He takes the seat previously held by Dr. Francisco Barnes, former President of Mexico’s National Institute of Ecology. The addition of an executive from Mexico’s Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources further strengthens the Reserve’s collaboration with the Mexican federal government on environmental activities and commitment to advancing cross-border initiatives.

“We have been very honored and appreciative to have a long-standing presence from the Mexican government on our Board of Directors. And, now we are extremely fortunate to have the involvement of Undersecretary Lacy. He has achieved a long list of environmental accomplishments in Mexico and Mexico City, and his guidance will be invaluable to the Reserve’s ongoing work in Mexico and in cross-border initiatives between Mexico and California,” said Linda Adams, Chair of the Climate Action Reserve Board of Directors and Founding Partner of Clean Tech Advocates.

Undersecretary Lacy was appointed to his current position in December 2012. Prior to that, he served as the Program and Projects Coordinator in the Mario Molina Centre for eight years and as the Chief of Staff for the Minster of Environment and Natural Resources of the federal government. During his career, Undersecretary Lacy developed several pioneering environmental programs and systems on national and city levels. While serving as the Executive Director for Strategic Projects for the Environmental Engineers Association of Mexico, he coordinated a team of international experts to develop the new Mexican regulation for air quality monitoring systems and led the pilot project “Environmental Management System” for the most important airports in northern Mexico. As the Director of Environmental Studies for Mexico City, he was responsible for the first comprehensive Air Pollution Program in the Metropolitan Area of Mexico City, and he structured and edited the first National Ecological Program and the first State of the Environment Report for Mexico while serving as the Director of Environmental Planning for the Ministry of Ecology and Urban Development.

“I have followed the Climate Action Reserve’s forestry and livestock work in Mexico and been impressed by the organization’s standards, ability to convene stakeholders and commitment to quality. I am pleased to join the organization’s Board of Directors and be a part of this ongoing work and ventures into new areas,” said Undersecretary Lacy.

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

Errata and Clarifications released for the Rice Cultivation Project Protocol Version 1.1

Errata and Clarifications released for the Organic Waste Digestion Project Protocol Version 2.0

Errata and Clarifications released for the U.S. Landfill Project Protocol Versions 4.0, 3.0, 2.1, and 2.0

Errata and Clarifications released for the U.S. Livestock Project Protocol Versions 4.0, 3.0, 2.2, 2.1, and 2.0