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

One Man’s Trash Really is Another’s Treasure

Landfill carbon offsets are the most popular in the Climate Action Reserve

A great treasure is hidden in the depths of local landfills. Mining this treasure brings benefits to the global climate, local air quality, and green economy. And companies and individuals are demonstrating that this new commodity is both valuable and necessary.

The treasure is carbon offsets which are generated by capturing and destroying the highly potent greenhouse gas (GHG) methane that’s created by decomposing trash. By adhering to the Reserve’s Landfill Project Protocol, which provides standards on measuring, monitoring and verifying emissions reductions, landfills can earn offset credits, called Climate Reserve Tonnes (CRTs), equivalent to the metric tons of GHG emissions reductions. CRTs can be sold on the carbon market to consumers who wish to offset their GHG emissions. The Reserve carbon offset program supports emission reductions in forests, urban forests, livestock operations, landfills, coal mines, organic waste digestion, composting, nitric acid plants, ozone depleting substances, rice cultivation and nitrogen management.

Of the 27 million carbon offsets issued by the Climate Action Reserve, over 4 million have been retired by organizations and individuals including Google, Disney, CBRE, and UPS to reduce their impact on the environment and meet their sustainability goals. With a large selection of respected project types, consumers may consider a variety of factors when deciding what offsets to buy, including how the offset project complements the company’s mission, the proximity of the project location to the community the company serves, or the important environmental co-benefits of the project. Here are the top carbon offset project types in the Climate Action Reserve which has 150 registered projects to date located throughout the United States and Mexico:

1. Landfills

The most popular offsets among the Reserve’s 11 project types are generated by landfill gas capture and combustion projects. More than 2.5 million CRTs have been retired from landfill projects; that is the equivalent of removing more than 498,000 passenger vehicles from the road for one year.

Davidson County Landfill Gas Destruction Project in Lexington, North Carolina

Landfills release methane, a greenhouse gas that is 20 times more powerful at trapping heat in the atmosphere than carbon dioxide. Landfill projects capture methane gas and send it to a flare for destruction or to an energy producing device for combustion. In addition to addressing climate change, these projects also result in improved water quality, reduction in hazardous air pollutants and, when converted to energy, provide an alternative to limited non-renewable sources such as coal and oil.

2. Forestry

The second most popular offsets in the Reserve are produced by forestry projects. More than 937,000 forestry offsets have been retired to date. Forest projects permanently increase carbon storage in trees and protect forest ecosystems. The Reserve requires natural forest management practices which promote native species, mixed age classes, and sustainable harvest. These provisions reverse the history of intensive industrial timber management on forest lands and rebuild forest habitat for many species. The Reserve requires the long-term (100 year) increase of carbon storage in the forest, thereby significantly enhancing and preserving forests for generations.

Lompico Forest Carbon Project in Santa Cruz County, California

3. Ozone Depleting Substances

To date, more than 381,000 CRTs from ozone depleting substances (ODS) projects have been retired. In addition to destroying the stratospheric ozone layer, these gases, which are used as refrigerants, are thousands of times more potent than CO2 in trapping heat in the atmosphere. ODS have been prohibited from new production because of the danger they pose, but the gases are not prohibited from being recycled back into use from old appliances. ODS projects ensure that the dangerous refrigerants and foam blowing agents are never used again, by collecting them from old appliances and destroying them. The Reserve has two protocols addressing the destruction of ODS – one for ODS sourced in the United States and the other for ODS sourced from the 147 countries identified in Article 5 of the Montreal Protocol, such as India and Mexico.

4. Nitric Acid Production

Nitric acid is a compound used primarily to make synthetic commercial fertilizers. Nitrous oxide, N2O, is formed as a byproduct of the nitric acid production process and is 310 times more potent than CO2 at trapping heat in the atmosphere. Greenhouse gas emissions reduction projects that install and operate abatement technology to reduce N2O emissions at nitric acid plants earn carbon credits through the Reserve. N2O is a precursor to ozone formation, particulates, and a component of acid rain and so reductions also provide local air quality benefits. Over 149,000 CRTs have been retired from nitric acid projects.

5. Livestock Operations

Cow and pig manure releases methane, but farmers can install new technologies, specifically anaerobic biodigesters, to facilitate the breakdown of manure and convert it into renewable energy and a nutrient-rich fertilizer. More than 37,000 CRTs have been retired from livestock gas capture and combustion systems.

Bridgewater Dairy in Montpelier, Ohio

In addition to the top five carbon offset types, the Reserve supports emissions reductions in coal mine methane, organic waste digestion, organic waste composting, rice cultivation methane, urban forestry and agriculture nitrogen management.

CRTs have consistently been in high demand, as buyers have sought assurance that offsets are real (reductions have actually occurred), additional (reductions occurred because of the incentives associated with the carbon market), permanent (reductions provide ever-lasting benefits to the environment), verified (reductions are confirmed by an independent third party) and enforceable (reductions are subject to penalties for non-compliance). The purchase of offsets supports emissions reductions in key sectors, achieves important environmental co-benefits, allows sustainability goals to be met at lower cost, supports innovation in green technologies and grows the green economy. And with many offset types available, buyers can be choosy to find the best fit.

New policy for verification deadline for initial project verification period

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

Please join us on Friday, July 13 for a public comment workshop on the Forest Project Protocol Version 3.3 and Federal Lands White Paper – in San Francisco and via webinar

New policy allows continued registration under ARB approved protocols

Nitrogen Management Project Protocol Version 1.0 was adopted by the Reserve Board on June 27, 2012

U.S. and Article 5 ODS Project Protocols Versions 2.0 were adopted by the Reserve Board on June 27, 2012

Climate Action Offsetter: Chevrolet’s Carbon Reduction Commitment

written by Chevrolet

At General Motors, we believe that we need to increase fuel economy and reduce carbon dioxide emissions as far across the spectrum as possible. That is why we are developing more fuel-efficient vehicles that fit customers’ lifestyles, and striving to increase energy efficiency and use of alternative energy resources throughout our operations.

While we are making good progress in reducing our environmental impact, we are always looking for new and innovative ways to do more. The Chevrolet carbon-reduction initiative is an example of this approach. After all, the solution to environmental challenges goes beyond vehicles.

Chevrolet, our largest brand, made a bold carbon-reduction commitment in November 2010 to connect with Chevy customers through greenhouse-gas reducing projects in local communities here in America. Chevy now has 16 carbon-reduction project agreements in place around the nation, accounting for half of its 8 million metric ton goal, with more projects to be announced soon. This goal was based on the estimated emissions from the 1.9 million Chevy vehicles sold and driven in the United States in roughly a one-year period.

To give you an idea how much 8 million metric tons is, according to epa.gov, it equals the CO₂ emissions of one year of electricity use in 970,874 homes. Or, the annual carbon dioxide reduction from 1.7 million acres of pine forest.

We have focused our investments in community-based programs that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions through energy savings, renewable energy and conservation. For example, Chevy is supporting three landfill methane capture and combustion programs in Kentucky, North Carolina and Maryland. Chevy is also helping a greenhouse that grows gardening plants in Huntersville, N.C. replace natural gas with renewable biomass. It’s also supporting a 108-turbine wind farm, including seven community-owned wind turbines, that provides rural farmers and residents with locally generated power and financial returns.

From the start of this initiative, Chevy has engaged with environmental experts, non-government organizations and academics through the Climate Neutral Business Network to guide and inform the investments. The nonprofit Bonneville Environmental Foundation is helping find and support the projects. Their expertise and guidance has enriched the program in many ways.

We know a lot more needs to be done, but we feel that investing in these projects is a positive step for our environment and for local communities. Learn more about Chevy’s voluntary carbon-reduction initiative and show your support by planting a virtual tree on your Facebook wall.

Reserve Achieves Milestone of Issuing More Than 25 Million Carbon Offset Credits

The Climate Action Reserve has reached the milestone of issuing more than 25 million carbon offset credits, which is the equivalent to removing 4.9 million passenger vehicles from the road for one year. Each credit, called Climate Reserve Tonne (CRT), represents one metric ton of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that has been prevented from release in the atmosphere. In just over four years, the Reserve has established a highly valued commodity sought by major businesses and organizations to offset their emissions. With 141 registered offset projected located in 45 U.S. states and Mexico, the Reserve has developed a significant volume of CRTs to meet the growing demand for offsets in both the voluntary and regulated carbon markets, including California’s upcoming cap-and-trade program.

The project that pushed the total CRT tally beyond 25 million is the 200-acre Granger South Jordan Landfill Gas Destruction Project located in the Salt Lake area of Utah. Landfills release methane, a greenhouse gas that is 20 times more powerful at trapping heat in the atmosphere than carbon dioxide. This Utah landfill captures methane gas and sends it to an energy plant for combustion or destroys it onsite.

“With 25 million metric tons of GHG emissions reductions achieved to date, the Climate Action Reserve has demonstrated the viability of the carbon market in mitigating climate change in a cost-efficient manner,” said Linda Adams, Chair of the Reserve Board of Directors. “As more companies look to reduce their impact on the environment, they are turning to the most trusted carbon offsets program. The stringent standards, transparent processes and multi-stakeholder participation that the Reserve employs have earned market confidence that its emissions reductions are real, additional and permanent.”

From small businesses to international corporations, many organizations – including Sokol Blosser Winery, UPS, Google, NHL and Lollapalooza – are using Reserve offsets to reduce their impact on the environment and meet their sustainability goals. Of the 25 million issued CRTs, 3.5 million have been retired by organizations and individuals to offset their GHG emissions.

“We are proud to include Reserve offsets in our sustainability plan for carbon neutrality,” stated Matt Ellis, Associate Director of Sustainability at CBRE. “As the world’s largest commercial real estate services company, CBRE has strived to reduce our environmental footprint when possible and mitigate emissions that are unavoidable. Reserve offsets have been instrumental to our effort. The Reserve provides some of the highest quality carbon offset projects in the world, and has enabled us to make investments in emissions reduction projects in communities we serve.”

The Climate Action Reserve carbon offset program launched in May 2008, under its then-parent organization the California Climate Action Registry, to encourage market-based solutions to achieve GHG emissions reductions. The Reserve worked to ensure the environmental integrity, financial value and liquidity supply in the North American carbon market. The Reserve program encompasses 11 project protocols approved for use throughout the United States and two project protocols for use in Mexico that address emissions reductions from forests, urban forests, livestock operations, landfills, coal mines, organic waste digestion, composting, nitric acid plants, ozone depleting substances and rice cultivation.

In a strong testament to the high quality of the Reserve program, the California Air Resources Board (ARB) adopted four Reserve protocols (forest, urban forest, livestock and ozone depleting substances) into the state’s cap-and-trade program. The use of offset credits generated through these protocols will allow for cost-efficient compliance by regulated entities, increased investment in low-carbon technologies, growth of green jobs and skillsets, and the integration of a broader range of our economy in the fight against climate change. The Reserve is currently the only registry whose standards have been adopted by the ARB.