Thanking bicyclists on Bike to Work Day!

This year, we signed up with Metro Los Angeles to serve as a Bike to Work Day pit stop host. As an environmental nonprofit working to achieve reductions in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, we’re excited to support local bicycling efforts to further support emissions reductions in our community.

Even though the weather was forecasted for a high of 101 degrees today – the hottest in this current heat wave – many dedicated bicyclists sweated their way through the sauna-like heat and commuted to work on their bicycles.

We were happy to share our thanks for their efforts to clean our air and help our climate. At our pit stop, bicyclists and bicycling enthusiasts were able to pick up maps of bike paths in LA county, safety guides outlining the rules of the road, brochures for local bicycling nonprofits, reflector lights, patch kits, and breakfast goodies.

Bicycling is a great way to reduce emissions, get exercise, reduce traffic congestion, save money, and enhance the community’s quality of life. We received a comment that “Bike to Work Day should happen every month, no every week!” We agree!

Special thanks to Metro Los Angeles, Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, and the U.S. Bank Building for their support!!

Climate Action Reserve awarded Environmental Protection prize at the largest social impact awards in the country

CLASSY Awards Announces Eight Nonprofit Winners Live on Stage

San Diego, CA – The CLASSY Awards, in partnership with the United Nations Foundation, announced eight Winners live on stage this past weekend at the 5^th Annual CLASSY Awards Ceremony. More than 3,600 programs worldwide were evaluated during a yearlong research process. The Winners were selected by the Leadership Council, a prestigious board of 100+ leaders and experts in the social sector.

The Ceremony featured co-hosts Elizabeth Gore, Entrepreneur-in-Residence at the United Nations Foundation and Kenna, Founder of Summit on the Summit and Grammy-Nominated Musician, along with 12 influential speakers.

“We are truly honored to be in the company of so many amazing and accomplished organizations. Seeing the impactful work of the winners and all of the nominees at the awards ceremony really made a bold statement about the power of collaboration, passion and drive,” said Gary Gero, President of the Climate Action Reserve. “We share this award and the recognition of our work with all of the environmental groups, businesses, government agencies, academic institutions and individuals who have been a part of our work over the last 11 years.”

“All of the organizations participating in the CLASSY Awards are big thinkers and bold leaders,” said Elizabeth Gore, this year’s co-host of the CLASSY Awards and Entrepreneur–in-Residence at the UN Foundation. “The winners recognized on stage are implementing creative new solutions, taking risks and leveraging best practices to guide their strategies. The UN Foundation recognizes their leadership and we are proud to support their efforts in driving significant social progress moving forward.”

This year’s CLASSY Awards Winners include:

Active Duty & Veterans Services: The Mission Continues
Animal & Wildlife Welfare: World Vets
Disaster Relief & Public Safety International Medical Corps
Educational Advancement: Project Lead the Way
Environmental Protection: Climate Action Reserve
Health Services: Jhpiego
Human Rights & Social Justice: Immigration Equality
Poverty & Hunger Relief: Action Against Hunger

The Climate Action Reserve is the largest offset registry to serve the carbon markets. With deep roots in California and a reach across North America, the organization encourages actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and works to ensure environmental benefit, integrity and transparency in market-based solutions to address global climate change.

“Our global social landscape is evolving at an unprecedented pace, and bold solutions are needed to address new and existing challenges,” said Pat Walsh, Co-Founder of the CLASSY Awards. “The winners awarded with a CLASSY this year are driving significant progress in the 8 major cause sectors, and their work deserves recognition. We are honored to be able to shine a spotlight on their successes.”

More information about the CLASSY Awards Winners, Finalists and Nominees can be found at: www.classyawards.org or email tloubier@stayclassy.org.

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About the CLASSY Awards
The CLASSY Awards, in partnership with the United Nations Foundation, is the largest social impact awards ceremony of its kind, celebrating the greatest champions of social progress. The yearlong initiative identifies and evaluates organizations in eight major cause categories, including Active Duty & Veteran Services, Animal & Wildlife Welfare, Education Advancement, Environmental Protection, Health Services, Human Rights & Social Justice, Poverty & Hunger Relief, Disaster Relief & Public Safety. The winners are determined by the CLASSY Awards Leadership Council, an honorary board of leaders and experts whose unique perspective and valuable insight establishes this recognition as one of the highest honors in the social sector. For more information, visit www.classyawards.org.

About the United Nations Foundation
The United Nations Foundation builds public-private partnerships to address the world’s most pressing problems, and broadens support for the United Nations through advocacy and public outreach. Through innovative campaigns and initiatives, the Foundation connects people, ideas, and resources to help the UN solve global problems. The Foundation was created in 1998 as a U.S. public charity by entrepreneur and philanthropist Ted Turner and now is supported by global corporations, foundations, governments, and individuals. For more information, visit www.unfoundation.org.

Heather O’Neill elected to Climate Action Reserve Board of Directors

New Board seat adds a strong connection to the advanced energy business sector

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – Heather O’Neill, Vice President of Strategic Partnerships for Advanced Energy Economy (AEE) and the Advanced Energy Economy Institute (AEEI), has joined the Climate Action Reserve Board of Directors. Ms. O’Neill’s election to the Board adds a voice from the growing advanced energy industry, a broad sector that includes technologies and services ranging from energy efficiency to wind, solar, and hydropower to smart grid and energy storage, many of which contribute to reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.

“We are very pleased to welcome Heather O’Neill to the Reserve Board of Directors. In electing Board members, we have always been diligent in seeking diverse representation from leaders in the environment, energy and policy sectors, and Ms. O’Neill adds a strong and experienced perspective from the emerging clean energy economy. We could not have found a more fitting addition for helping guide the Reserve’s current work and strategic direction,” said Linda Adams, Chair of the Climate Action Reserve Board of Directors and Founding Partner of Clean Tech Advocates.

AEE is a national association of business leaders working together to make the global energy system more secure, clean and affordable. The association’s mission is transforming public policy to enable rapid growth of advanced energy companies. In her position, Ms. O’Neill is responsible for deepening and broadening AEE’s relationships with funders and foundations and building partnerships with allied organizations that advance industry growth. Prior to AEE, she served as a program officer at the Robertson Foundation and led the foundation’s energy and environment efforts.

“I am honored to join the Climate Action Reserve’s Board of Directors. In my work, I have seen how aligned organizations can leverage each other’s work for greater impact.The Reserve is another strong testament to the effectiveness of partnership,” said Ms. O’Neill.

Grassland Project Protocol development process underway: workgroup application and RFP to assist with protocol development are now available – applications and proposals due May 23

Quote highlights from NACW 2014

Special thanks to our speakers, sponsors, exhibitors, media partners and supporting organizations for helping make the Navigating the American Carbon World (NACW) 2014 conference a success. Below are a few quote highlights from the distinguished carbon and climate professionals who spoke at NACW.

**Share your favorite climate quote from NACW or beyond in the comments by April 30 to be entered to win a candy jar filled with treats!**

	“There’s a high level of excitement right now. The level of interest from buyers in the market and from suppliers of projects is unprecedented.” – Roger Williams, President, Blue Source
	“REDD needs to happen. California is a leader, but it can’t be a leader in isolation.” – John O Niles, Director of Climate and Forests, WWFUS
	“We are continuing to consider international sector based credits.” – Jason Gray, Staff Attorney, California Air Resources Board
	“The number one most important thing for the health of the market is that we have a target beyond 2020.” – Noel Perry, Founder, Next10
	“If California greens its economy quickly, it might increase the odds of taking on more ambitious targets past 2020.” – Jan Frommeyer, Director Market Analysis, ICIS
	“People want a special story in an offset project that supplements their values.” – Fahmida Ahmed, Associate Director, Department of Sustainability & Energy Management, Stanford University
	“No matter what we do, we’re going to be sued, so we know anything we put out has to be airtight.” – Hector De La Torre, Board Member, California Air Resources Board
	“If we had a federal AB32, we’d be better off. If we had a global AB32, that’d be even better.” – Peter Lehner, Executive Director, Natural Resources Defense Council
	“If the offset mechanism isn’t fully utilized, then something is wrong. It would be a real shame because the program wouldn’t be operational as intended.” – Julian Richardson, CEO, Parhelion Underwriting Ltd.
	“It’s pretty clear what the interim targets should be. At minimum, a linear connection between 2020 and 2050 means the target is 33 percent less by 2020 and 66 percent less by 2040.” – Dr. Daniel Kammen, Class of 1935 Distinguished Professor of Energy University of California, Berkeley
	“There’s still a lot to do in the transportation sector between now and 2020. We have the regulatory capacity to get there and the market is robust.” – Henry Stern, Principal Consultant, Energy & Environmental Policy Senator Fran Pavley
	“We believe pricing carbon is important. In developing the policies, ultimately a cap and trade program was chosen largely because of the cap. The cap helps us know that we’re on track. The cap is essential.” – Steve Cliff, Assistant Chief, Stationary Source Division California Air Resources Board
	“The market is working. Folks are investing in futures in the market.” – Jack Broadbent, CEO/Air Pollution Control Officer, Bay Area Air Quality Management District

California issues first forest offset credits under compliance protocol, sealing legal commitment to long-term forest protection

Climate Action Reserve supports credit issuance and natural forest management

LOS ANGELES, CA – The Climate Action Reserve, an environmental nonprofit organization and North America’s premier carbon offset registry, is pleased to support the issuance of the first forest offset credits under a compliance protocol from California’s cap-and-trade program. Today the California Air Resources Board (ARB) issued 836,619 compliance offset credits to the Yurok Tribe/Forest Carbon Partners CKGG Improved Forest Management Project, which covers about 8,000 acres of Douglas-fir and mixed hardwood on tribal land near the Klamath River in Northern California. The project was registered with the Climate Action Reserve and developed in compliance with California’s Compliance Offset Protocol – U.S. Forest Projects, which is based on the Reserve’s Forest Project Protocol.

The credit issuance marks a significant milestone in the development of California’s cap-and-trade program and the state’s goal of protecting forests and promoting long-term environmentally sensitive forest management to help mitigate climate change. Forest projects that qualify under the cap-and-trade program must maintain or increase carbon in live trees for more than 100 years, a requirement that was originally established in the Reserve’s Forest Project Protocol.

“Twenty percent of the world’s GHG emissions come from deforestation. The acceptance of this project into California’s carbon market will encourage other public and private owners of forest lands to develop offset projects. The issuance of these forest offset credits signifies a legal commitment to long-term forest protection and demonstrates the effectiveness and benefit of market mechanisms to encourage environmental action. Forest carbon offset projects will continue to play an important role in our carbon market. Congratulations to the Yurok Tribe, the State of California and the many organizations that worked so hard to make this a reality,” said Linda Adams, former Secretary of the California Environmental Protection Agency and Chair of the Climate Action Reserve Board of Directors. “I had the honor of working intimately on protecting California’s forests on both the state and nonprofit sides and am thrilled to see the issuance of the first forest offset credits under a compliance protocol for the state’s cap-and-trade program.”

In addition to guaranteeing long-term forest protection and natural forest management, the Yurok Tribe/Forest Carbon Partners CKGG Improved Forest Management Project provides significant revenue for the Yurok Tribe and will help enable the continued management of the Tribe’s ancestral homeland. Among other benefits, it will improve forest habitat diversity and provide benefits to salmon and steelhead populations by improving riparian habitat and water quality.

“We have lost many of our old trees to deforestation, and numerous native plant and animal species, especially deer and elk, are struggling because of it,” said Thomas P. O’Rourke, Sr., Chairman of the Yurok Tribe. “This forest carbon project enables the Tribe to help transition these acres back into a tribally managed natural forest system where wildlife and cultural resources like tanoak acorns, huckleberry, and hundreds of medicinal plants will thrive.”

NACW 2014: About our delegates

Here’s a quick infographic analysis of delegates that participated in NACW 2014:

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