Climate Action Offsetter: SRO Motorsports races toward their climate goals

Climate Action Offsetter: SRO Motorsports races toward their climate goals

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Q&A with SRO Motorsports Group, who recently retired offsets from the Reserve offset registry

1. What is your organization’s mission?

With three decades’ experience in organization and promotion of motorsport races around the world, SRO Motorsports Group is the established global leader in GT racing. We stage multiple series across five continents, each with a unique identity, providing an opportunity to GT teams to compete for diverse categories titles. One of our flagship events sees world-leading automotive brands tackle marquee events across the globe.

The company is inextricably linked with the revival of GT Racing, but has also been involved in single-seater, sportscar and touring car competitions as well as in the promotion of multi-series platforms and esports competitions.

Considerable emphasis is placed on amateur competitors thanks to a range of series combining a relaxed environment with highly professional standards, and SRO also works with the FIA to organise and promote the FIA Motorsport Games, a multi-disciplinary event in which drivers compete in the colors of their national flag.

Our events portfolio is constantly expanding, we are on a mission to build a sustainable future for our sport, through teamwork, innovation and a rebellious competitive spirit.

2. What are the key principles and goals of your sustainability program?

SRO’s sustainability strategy has our business at the core of it. From renewable energy procurement at our facilities, to reducing, recycling waste and obtaining environmental certifications, we are truly focused on bringing environmental protection as a crucial focus to our day-to-day work.

The topics of diversity and inclusion, as well as our employees’ health and wellbeing are equally high on our list of priorities. We’ll continue to work on and implement inclusive working and hiring practices, as well as establish well-being and health and safety policies, aiding us in shaping a diverse and empowered workforce. This will help SRO become a stronger, more resilient business and a better place to work.

Our championships are where our strategy house further develops, establishing three main pillars: events, teams and partners, and elaborating environmental actions within.

Regarding the events pillar, this is the second year in which single-use plastic is banned on all our events, and we cooperate with suppliers which offer sustainable products (catering, merchandise, branding materials etc). We have recently mandated compulsory use of 100% HVO (bio) fuel for team generators and tyre warmers at our biggest European Series events and the goal is to implement this rule worldwide in the upcoming years.

The teams participating in all of SRO Series around the world, are with no doubt our biggest driving force. Being one of the main pillars in our sustainability strategy, we’ve pledged to empower our teams to go carbon neutral and champion diverse talent.

At the end of this racing season we’ll provide our teams with best practice guidance on decarbonization and a GHG assessment calculator to allow them to work out their emissions and how to cut them. For two years in a row now we’ve compensated our competitors carbon emissions by supporting international environmental projects, having in that way 100% carbon neutral competitor fleets.

The third main pillar of our strategy focuses on creating innovative partnerships for zero carbon fuels and sustainable tyres.

Adopting sustainable race fuels is a top priority, and we plan to partner with innovators in fuels to give us all the power we need, with 60% lower CO2 emissions by 2024, and zero CO2 by 2030.

Sustainable tyre design and use is the second aim of our partner pillar. As of this year we have implemented 100 percent tyre collection and recovery processes of used tyres on our events. Our tyre partnership work will additionally focus on implementation of tyre circularity programme to maximise used tyres upcycling as of 2024 and continuous demand for more sustainable design creating tyres that last longer.

3. How did you choose the right offset projects for your company?

Each of the offset projects we invest in are carefully selected and verified by relevant environmental certification standards. They support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and are subject to regular third-party audits. To encourage carbon emissions removal and carbon avoidance, a balance of technology-based and nature-based initiatives is reflected in our offsetting portfolio. We also try to choose projects which are relevant to our racing activities, meaning supporting projects local to some of the regions we race in. By supporting these initiatives, we are establishing a global environmental presence that matches our activities in motor racing.

4. How has utilizing offsets benefited your organization / your clients / your community?

SRO Motorsports Group is committed to manage our business processes while taking account of our environmental, social and economic impact. Our constant priority is to act in a responsible and ethical manner, always striving to bring positive contribution to society.

A crucial part of our wider CSR commitment is our Environmental responsibility – being highly aware of the environmental footprint our operations create, we have created a 2023 sustainability program and constantly implement sustainable actions into each aspect of our business activities.

As part of our sustainability program, SRO has started to offset its residual carbon emissions, difficult to be avoided at present. These offsetting programs contribute towards preserving biological diversity and protecting endangered ecosystems, successfully combating climate change. The environmental projects we support bring numerous benefits for us, our community and the society as a whole by helping reduce millions tonnes of CO2e, restoring eco-systems, supporting traditional livelihoods and offering locals a more sustainable source of income.

5. What’s next for your organization’s climate and environmental goals?

SRO Motorsports Group has recently joined The Climate Pledge, an initiative co-founded by Amazon and Global Optimism, which is a commitment to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2040.

This ambitious target is 10 years ahead of the objective set by the Paris Agreement, a landmark treaty adopted at the COP 21 UN Climate Change Conference in 2015. Meeting the goal will further enhance the world’s chances of limiting the global temperature rise and in turn fighting back against the climate emergency.

By joining, SRO has committed to three main areas of action: measuring and reporting its greenhouse gas emissions on a regular basis; implementing decarbonisation strategies in line with the Paris Agreement; and acting to neutralize any remaining emissions with additional, quantifiable, real, permanent, and socially beneficial offsets to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2040. Crucially, the initiative acknowledges that the world must move faster in its effort to build a low-carbon future.

In addition, we have set several environmental goals and actions for 2024: implementing 100% HVO racing fuel on our events, sustainable racing calendars, obtaining environmental certifications for our Series and facilities, holding environmental workshops for our competitors, awarding competitor Sustainability trophies and we also aim to recalculate our carbon footprint baseline.


Local Impact and Inclusion with Mexico Forest Offset Projects

Local Impact and Inclusion with Mexico Forest Offset Projects

On international, national, and local levels, social safeguards have become a focal point of discussion and debate for forest offset projects and appropriately so. Without a check for protection of social safeguards, there would be no assurances that offset projects are not causing more harm than good to the environment, livelihood, and equity of local communities.

Social safeguards are a priority and requirement in the Climate Action Reserve’s Mexico Forest Protocol (MFP), ensuring that local communities and ejidos are involved in their forest offset projects’ design and implementation. The MFP was developed to be standardized to the Mexican context to reduce project development and verification costs and ensure that the primary beneficiaries would be Mexican ejidos and communities, the primary forest owners in Mexico.

An excellent example of ejido involvement and implementation of the social safeguards can be seen in the Pueblo Nuevo forest project. Earlier this year, Climate Action Reserve staff members attended the General Assembly of Pueblo Nuevo in Durango, Mexico. Pueblo Nuevo is the second largest ejido in Mexico with more than 240,000 hectares of land and a total population of over 10,000. After the Ejido President, accompanied by the project developer, provided an overview of the forest carbon project and protocol requirements, they opened the floor for discussion and community participation. Hands were raised and a line of community members was formed, each looking to voice their support of the project, its importance for their community and for Mexico, and the need to ensure the sustainable management of their forest for the next generation. After community members voiced their comments, the Ejido President held a vote for the community to commit to the long-term requirements of the forest carbon project. Through this democratic and participatory process, the ejido committed to include 104,000 hectares in an Improved Forest Management project and ensure all additional carbon removals be maintained for a minimum of 100 years.

The vote to approve the community’s commitment to the forest carbon project is part of the social safeguards included in the Reserve’s MFP. The social safeguards ensure Free, Prior, and Informed Consent, requiring that the ejido is adequately informed on topics related to the forest carbon project, including estimated costs and benefits, protocol requirements, and decision-making processes for long-term management of generated funds, prior to voting to approve the project. The communities further must approve the project developer and all related contracts defining the division of costs and benefits.

The social safeguards additionally require ongoing notification, participation, and documentation of the forest carbon project to ensure the community is included and informed of all project development activities, as well as the sale of credits, associated prices and potential offers. Lastly, the social safeguards require local governance of the carbon project through the election of a community member to serve as the project coordinator or the primary representative of the community throughout the project development and ongoing measurement, reporting and verification (MRV) activities. The project developer must include the coordinator in all communications with the Reserve, verification bodies, and potential buyers, ensuring transparency of all associated project activities with the community.

Protection and involvement of local communities does not stop with the social safeguards required in the Reserve’s MFP. Additionally, the Reserve holds weekly calls with all Mexico forest project developers and coordinators to respond to project or protocol related questions, provides ongoing training opportunities, and provides a space for project developers and coordinators to share their project experience and knowledge. The Reserve has further held over 25 in-person and remote trainings to Mexican NGOs, foresters and forest service providers, communities and ejidos, and other local actors that have in turn become project developers, project owners, and verifiers.

To date, 91 percent of all projects in Mexico are communally owned projects, 100 percent of all project developers with listed or registered projects are Mexican based organizations and companies1, and 58 percent of all projects have been verified by a Mexican based2 verification body (99 percent with Mexican based verifiers3). Through the Reserve’s model, the MFP has enabled the listing and/or registering of 198 projects, each of which have committed to the implementation of additional sequestration activities on over 1.7 million hectares throughout Mexico.

As demonstrated by the Pueblo Nuevo community and other local Mexican communities engaged in forest offset projects through the Reserve, social safeguards can and are being implemented in these projects and bringing protections and benefits to the communities.

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1Based on the listed Company Country for the Project Developer accounts.
2Based on submitted NOVA/COIs and the listed Company Country for the Verification Body accounts.
3Based on submitted NOVA/COIs and the listed Lead Verifier and/or Senior Internal Reviewer.

Impactos Locales e Inclusión de los Proyectos de Créditos de Compensación en México

A nivel internacional, nacional, y local, las salvaguardas sociales se han vuelto el punto focal de discusión y debate sobre proyectos forestales de compensación, y con justa razón. Sin un control de la protección de las salvaguardias sociales, no habría garantías de que los proyectos de compensación no causen más daños que beneficios al medio ambiente, los medios de subsistencia y la equidad de las comunidades locales.

El cumplimiento de las salvaguardas sociales es un requerimiento prioritario del Protocolo Forestal para México (PFM) de la Reserva de Acción Climática, el cual garantiza que las comunidades y ejidos locales participen en el diseño y la ejecución de sus proyectos de compensación forestal. El PFM fue desarrollado para adecuarse al contexto mexicano con el fin de reducir los costos de desarrollo y verificación de los proyectos para asegurar que los principales beneficiarios fueran los ejidos y comunidades, principales propietarios de los bosques en México. Un excelente ejemplo de participación de los ejidos y de aplicación de las salvaguardas sociales puede verse en el proyecto forestal de Pueblo Nuevo.

A principios de este año, miembros del personal de la Reserva de Acción Climática asistieron a la Asamblea General del Ejido Pueblo Nuevo en Durango, México. Pueblo Nuevo es el segundo ejido más grande de México, con más de 240,000 hectáreas de superficie y una población total de más de 10,000 habitantes. Después de que el presidente del ejido, acompañado por el desarrollador del proyecto, ofreciera una visión general del proyecto de carbono forestal y los requisitos del protocolo, abrieron el debate y la participación de la comunidad. Se levantaron las manos y se formó una fila de miembros de la comunidad, cada uno de los cuales quería expresar su apoyo al proyecto, su importancia para su comunidad y para México, y la necesidad de garantizar el manejo sostenible de su bosque para la próxima generación. Después de que los miembros de la comunidad expresaran sus comentarios, el Presidente del Comisariado Ejidal convocó a una votación para que la comunidad se comprometiera con los requisitos a largo plazo del proyecto de carbono forestal. A través de este proceso democrático y participativo, el ejido se comprometió a incluir 104,000 hectáreas en un proyecto de Manejo Forestal Mejorado, así como a garantizar que todas las remociones adicionales de carbono se mantengan durante un mínimo de 100 años.

La votación para aprobar el compromiso de la comunidad con el proyecto de carbono forestal forma parte de las salvaguardas sociales incluidas en el PFM de la Reserva. Las salvaguardas sociales garantizan el Consentimiento Libre, Previo e Informado, exigiendo que el ejido esté adecuadamente informado sobre los temas relacionados con el proyecto de carbono forestal, incluidos los costos y beneficios esperados, los requisitos del protocolo y los procesos de toma de decisiones para la gestión a largo plazo de los fondos generados, antes de votar para aprobar el proyecto. Además, las comunidades deben aprobar al promotor del proyecto y todos los contratos relacionados que definan el reparto de costes y beneficios.

Adicionalmente, las salvaguardias sociales exigen la notificación, participación y documentación continuas del proyecto de carbono forestal para garantizar que la comunidad esté incluida e informada de todas las actividades de desarrollo del proyecto, así como de la venta de créditos, los precios asociados y las posibles ofertas. Por último, las salvaguardas sociales exigen la gobernanza local del proyecto de carbono mediante la elección de un miembro de la comunidad que actúe como coordinador del proyecto o representante principal de la comunidad durante todo el desarrollo del proyecto y las actividades en curso de monitore, reporte y verificación (MRV). El desarrollador del proyecto debe incluir al coordinador en todas las comunicaciones con la Reserva, los organismos de verificación y los compradores potenciales, garantizando la transparencia de todas las actividades asociadas al proyecto con la comunidad.

La protección y la participación de las comunidades locales no se limitan a las salvaguardas sociales exigidas en el PFM. Además, la Reserva mantiene llamadas semanales con todos los desarrolladores y coordinadores de proyectos forestales de México para responder a preguntas relacionadas con proyectos o protocolos, ofrece oportunidades de formación continua y proporciona un espacio para que los desarrolladores y coordinadores de proyectos compartan su experiencia y conocimientos sobre los proyectos. Además, la Reserva ha impartido más de 25 cursos de formación presenciales y a distancia a ONG mexicanas, silvicultores y proveedores de servicios forestales, comunidades y ejidos, y otros actores locales que, a su vez, se han convertido en promotores de proyectos, propietarios de proyectos y verificadores.

Hasta la fecha, el 91 por ciento de todos los proyectos en México son de propiedad comunal, el 100 por ciento de todos los desarrolladores de proyectos con proyectos listados o registrados son organizaciones y empresas1 con sede en México, y el 58 por ciento de todos los proyectos han sido verificados por un organismo de verificación con sede en México2 (99 por ciento con verificadores3 con sede en México). A través del modelo de la Reserva, el PFM ha permitido el listado y/o registro de 198 proyectos, cada uno de los cuales se ha comprometido a la implementación de actividades adicionales de secuestro en más de 1.7 millones de hectáreas en todo México.

Como ha demostrado el ejido Pueblo Nuevo y otras comunidades mexicanas que participan en proyectos de créditos de compensación forestales a través de la Reserva, las salvaguardas sociales pueden aplicarse y se están aplicando en estos proyectos y aportando protecciones y beneficios a los núcleos agrarios.

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1 Basado en el país reportado como sede de la empresa para la apertura de cuentas del desarrollador de proyecto.
2 Según las NOVA/COI presentadas y el país reportado como sede de la empresa para la apertura de cuentas del Organismo de Verificación. 
3 Basado en las NOVA/COI presentadas y en el Verificador Líder y/o el Revisor Interno Senior registrados.


Check out our video highlighting how we’re working to support mangrove forests

Check out our video highlighting how we’re working to support mangrove forests


Errata and Clarifications released for the U.S. Landfill Protocol v6.0

Errata and Clarifications released for the U.S. Landfill Protocol v6.0


Climate Action Reserve announced as approved Offset Project Registry for Washington’s cap-and-invest program

Climate Action Reserve announced as approved Offset Project Registry for Washington’s cap-and-invest program

Leading global offset registry can now accept project submittals for the state’s compliance program

LOS ANGELES, CA – The Climate Action Reserve has been approved by the Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology) to support the state’s cap-and-invest program as an Offset Project Registry (OPR). In this role, the Reserve will be accepting and reviewing submittals for offset projects to be used in the state’s compliance program.

The Reserve’s role in Washington’s program is similar to the role it plays as an OPR in California’s Cap-and-Trade Program, which the Reserve has supported and participated in since the initial development of the program. For both state compliance programs, the organization carefully reviews and approves offset projects to ensure adherence to the respective state’s standards before sending the projects on to the state for its review and issuance of compliance credits. Additionally, the Reserve’s voluntary offset protocols provided the foundation for five protocols adopted under California’s program and now four of those protocols – US Forestry, Urban Forestry, Livestock and Ozone Depleting Substances – are the initial protocols for Washington’s cap-and-invest program.

“The Climate Action Reserve is honored to be selected to support Washington’s cap and invest program. As indicated by the results of the initial auction, interest across Washington is very high to move aggressively to address the climate crisis. The Reserve stands ready to bring the highest quality carbon credits on the planet to Washington to support its ambitious climate goals,” said Craig Ebert, President of the Climate Action Reserve.

In 2020, Washington committed to becoming carbon neutral by 2050. The cap-and-invest program will be one important tool in the state’s toolbox for reaching this goal. Offset projects registered under the program are required to be real, quantifiable, verifiable, enforceable, additional and demonstrate direct environmental benefits to the state. In the first four-year compliance period of the cap-and-invest program, companies can use offset credits for up to five percent of their compliance obligation and an additional three percent with credits from projects on federally recognized Tribal lands.

 

The Climate Action Reserve is the most trusted, efficient, and experienced offset registry for global carbon markets. A pioneer in carbon accounting, the Reserve promotes and fosters the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions through credible market-based policies and solutions. As a high quality offset registry for voluntary carbon markets, it establishes rigorous standards and issues carbon credits under those standards. The Reserve also supports compliance carbon markets and serves as an approved Offset Project Registry for the State of California’s Cap-and-Trade Program. The Reserve is an environmental nonprofit organization headquartered in Los Angeles, California with satellite offices around the world. For more information, please visit www.climateactionreserve.org.

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Join us Friday, March 17, 9:00 am – 12:00 pm PT for the Low-Carbon Cement workgroup meeting 4

Join us Friday, March 17, 9:00 am – 12:00 pm PT for the Low-Carbon Cement workgroup meeting 4


We’re developing a Guatemala Forest Protocol. Join us Wednesday, March 29, 2023 for the kickoff webinar!

We’re developing a Guatemala Forest Protocol. Join us Wednesday, March 29, 2023 for the kickoff webinar!


Reserve launches process to develop China Adipic Acid Production Protocol

Reserve launches process to develop China Adipic Acid Production Protocol

The Climate Action Reserve is excited to announce it is kicking off the development of the China Adipic Acid Production Protocol by incentivizing the installation of N2O abatement technology at adipic acid production facilities in China. Carbon offset credits issued under this protocol will financially support and incentivize the destruction of N2O rather than it being passively vented to the atmosphere.

The Climate Action Reserve is the most trusted, efficient, and experienced offset registry for global carbon markets. A pioneer in carbon accounting, the Reserve promotes and fosters the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions through credible market-based policies and solutions. As a high-quality offset registry for voluntary carbon markets, it establishes rigorous standards and issues carbon credits under those standards. The Reserve also supports compliance carbon markets and serves as an approved Offset Project Registry for the State of California’s Cap-and-Trade Program. The Reserve is an environmental nonprofit organization headquartered in Los Angeles, California with satellite offices around the world.

The China Adipic Acid Production Protocol, as with all Reserve protocols, will go through a transparent stakeholder driven protocol development process, comprised of expert technical workgroup drafting, ongoing public consultation, and a review of the protocol by the Reserve Board of Directors for adoption. The Reserve strongly encourages industry experts and participants, as well as local community stakeholders, to become involved in the protocol development process. Interested parties can contact rmooney@climateactionreserve.org for more information.

Updates on the protocol development process can be found here.

气候行动组织（CAR） 启动制定中国己二酸碳减排方法学

气候行动组织很高兴地宣布，它将通过鼓励在中国的己二酸生产企业运用先进的N2O减排技术达到高效的减排目标来启动中国己二酸的碳减排方法学的制定。 基于该方法学认证发行的碳抵消信用可给减排项目提供财政上的支持，因此将积极促进中国目前大量排放的N2O被销毁。

气候行动组织是全球碳市场最值得信赖、最高效、最有经验的抵消注册机构。 作为碳核算的先驱，储备通过可靠的基于市场的政策和解决方案促进温室气体 (GHG) 排放的减少。 作为自愿碳市场的高质量抵消注册机构，它建立了严格的标准并根据这些标准颁发碳信用额度。 该注册机构还支持合规碳市场，并作为加利福尼亚州限额与交易计划的经批准的抵消项目登记处。CAR是一个环境非营利组织，总部位于加利福尼亚州洛杉矶，在世界各地设有办事处。

与所有 CAR的方法学一样，中国己二酸碳减排方法学将经历一个透明的利益相关者驱动的方法学开发过程，包括专家技术工作组起草、持续的公众咨询以及 CAR 董事会对方法学的审查直至批复。 CAR强烈鼓励行业专家以及所有利益相关者参与方法学制定过程。 有兴趣的人士可以联系 rmooney@climateactionreserve.org 了解更多信息。

可以在此处找到有关方法学开发过程的更新。


MiAMBIENTE and the Climate Action Reserve enter strategic collaboration to support strong development of Panama’s national carbon market

MiAMBIENTE and the Climate Action Reserve enter strategic collaboration to support strong development of Panama’s national carbon market

Alliance recognizes the Reserve as one of the most relevant and internationally recognized global offset registries

ANCÓN, PANAMÁ / LOS ANGELES, CA – The Ministry of the Environment of the Republic of Panama (MiAMBIENTE) and the Climate Action Reserve have entered a strategic collaboration to support the strong and successful development of a National Carbon Market in Panama. MiAMBIENTE selected the Reserve to collaborate with due to the organization’s status as one of the most relevant and internationally recognized offset registries.

“With these strategic alliances, MiAMBIENTE strengthens the capacities of the technical team that designs, implements and communicates national and international investment opportunities and project generation under the National Carbon Market,” said the National Director of Climate Change of the Ministry of Environment of Panama, Ligia Castro de Doens. 

Through the strategic collaboration, MiAMBIENTE and the Reserve will partner on two initiatives. One is the development of a forest protocol specifically for forests and local communities in Panama that will be supported by the government for use in the country’s voluntary carbon market. The protocol will be modeled off the Reserve’s Mexico Forest Protocol, which currently is being used by roughly 200 ejidos and local communities and has generated social, economic and environmental benefits for those communities. The strong engagement from communities and local and national trust in the Reserve program are key components in the success and growth of projects developed under the Mexico Forest Protocol, which the Reserve and MiAMBIENTE hope to replicate by partnering together in creating a forest protocol for Panama.

The second strategic initiative will take place under a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed by MiAMBIENTE and the Reserve. Under this partnership, the two will work together to develop Panama’s National Carbon Market. Reserve staff members will train members of the Ministry of Environment’s technical team on the organization’s program and specific protocols to be used in the National Greenhouse Gas Compensation System of Panama.

“It is a tremendous honor to be selected for such an important collaboration with MiAMBIENTE. Panama is strategically building the foundation for a strong National Carbon Market that will support the country’s local communities and also the country’s climate change goals. The work and success the Climate Action Reserve has experienced from its partnerships in Mexico were key to Panama choosing to work with us, and we are excited to work jointly with their team to achieve similar successes there,” said Craig Ebert, President of the Climate Action Reserve.

The Climate Action Reserve is the most trusted, efficient, and experienced offset registry for global carbon markets. A pioneer in carbon accounting, the Reserve promotes and fosters the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions through credible market-based policies and solutions. As a high quality offset registry for voluntary carbon markets, it establishes rigorous standards and issues carbon credits under those standards. The Reserve also supports compliance carbon markets and serves as an approved Offset Project Registry for the State of California’s Cap-and-Trade Program. The Reserve is an environmental nonprofit organization headquartered in Los Angeles, California with satellite offices around the world. For more information, please visit www.climateactionreserve.org.

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Join us Fri, Jan 20 for the Low-Carbon Cement Workgroup Meeting 2

Join us Fri, Jan 20 for the Low-Carbon Cement Workgroup Meeting 2