Managing Through Measurement:An Overview of Greenhouse Gas

Accounting

June 9, 2010Hosted by The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority

The Climate Registry

A non-profit organization governed by states, provinces and native sovereign nations in North America

The only North American voluntary greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions registry for corporate inventories

A community of 400 business, government and NGO leaders

Partnered with IOU’s to form The Cool Planet Project to provide complimentary assistance with GHG accounting to qualifying customers

Reducing Energy Reduces GHG’s

1,300 kWh = 1 Ton of Carbon

200 therms = 1 Ton Carbon

One ton of Carbon is emitted when you:Run an average US household for 60 days

Drive 1,900 miles in a mid-sized car

The Cool Planet Project rewards organizations who install large energy efficiency projects with assistance building their GHG inventory

Facilitated by: SDG&E, The Gas Co., SCE

Presentation Overview

1. Voluntary Action vs. Mandatory Action

2. Benefits of GHG Accounting

3. Components of a GHG Inventory

4. GHG Protocols for Local Governments

Voluntary Action vs. RegulationRegulatory

State, Regional, and Federal

AB 32, Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, EPA Mandatory Reporting Rule

Focuses on certain sectors and thresholds

Reporting is at facility or source level

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VoluntaryIndividual, Corporate, Municipal

Internal environmental initiatives, ICLEI, LEED, The Climate Registry, Global Reporting Initiative

Open to all sectors, no threshold

Reporting is at the entity level, “carbon footprint”

Voluntary Action Should Follow Best Practice Standards

What is a GHG Inventory?

Quantitative summary of GHG emissions associated with your operations

Commonly referred to as….

Your “carbon footprint”

Value of Building a GHG Inventory

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Value of Building a GHG Inventory

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6 Kyoto Greenhouse Gases (GHGs)Carbon Dioxide (CO2)Fossil fuel combustion (boilers, turbines, compressors, digesters, backup generators) and deforestation

Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)Cooling and refrigeration; industrial and commercial needs; propellants; flame retardant;

Methane (CH4)Landfills; livestock and livestock wastes; rice fields; wastewater treatment; production and distribution of natural gas and petroleum, and coal production

Nitrous Oxide (N2O)Agriculture, (soil cultivation practices; use of commercial & organic fertilizers), and fossil fuel combustion

Perfluorocarbons (PFCs)Aluminum production; medical applications; refrigerants; and semi conductor manufacturing

Sulfur Hexafluoride (SF6) Electrical transmission and distribution systems; circuit breakers; insulators

Principles of a GHG Accounting

Relevance: inventory should reflect the organization’s emissions and

decision-making

Completeness: account for all GHG sources and activities within

Defined inventory boundaries

Consistency: consistent methodologies ensure meaningful

comparison of inventory data over time

Transparency: necessitating full disclosure of all assumptions,

leaving a clear audit trail

Accuracy: provides reasonable assurance of the information’s

integrity

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Emissions Scopes

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Steps for Building an InventoryStep 1: Determine Your Boundaries

Geographic – state, national, international

Control – operational, financial, equity share

Step 2: Identify Emissions Sources and Collect DataScope 1, 2 or 3

Most data is available in existing systems

Step 3: Calculate EmissionsUse standardized and up to date protocol and methodologies to calculate emission (Climate Registry Information Systems)

Step 4: Communicate FindingsReport information to stakeholders and decision-makers

Report information to public through sustainability reports and/or The Registry

Step 5: Evaluate DataWhat did you learn? Integrate information into decision-making

Reporting Protocols

1. Provide step-by-step guidance on building an inventory (see previous slide steps 1-4)

2. Ensure consistency with international standards

3. Ensure comparability between reporting years

4. Ensure accurate up-to-date methodologies and emissions factors

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Reporting Protocols

General Reporting ProtocolThe Climate Registry’s standard guidance

Detailed how to guide

Updated annually

Local Government Operations ProtocolDeveloped by ARB, CCAR, ICLEI, and The Climate Registry

Maintained and updated by The Climate Registry w/input

Provides tailored guidance for quantifying local government emissions

Community ProtocolIn development- spearheaded by ICLEI

Important to ensure consistency across jurisdictions

Important to address methodological challenges 13

“You Can’t Manage What You Don’t Measure”

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Thank you!

Zoe Elizabeth

Communications Manager

North American Energy Efficiency Program

The Climate Registry

Tel. 213.213.1253

zoe@theclimateregistry.org