2009 was the last year that the California Registry accepted entity emissions reports. The California Registry is referring all emissions inventory reporting to its sister organization, The Climate Registry. If you are interested in continuing to report your greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, please visit The Climate Registry’s site.
Climate change is a global issue, and GHG emissions reporting belongs on an international level. Any success in reporting and reducing emissions must be based on consistent data in an integrated system that stretches beyond one jurisdiction’s borders. For this reason, the California Registry is transitioning its members to The Climate Registry, a sister organization that has expanded emissions reporting to all of North America and supports its members in continuing to report their emissions to one unified registry. As the issue of climate change becomes a main topic on regional and national levels, California Registry members are faced with an exciting opportunity to continue and strengthen their GHG emissions reporting and reduction profile through The Climate Registry.
The Climate Registry provides rigorous standards for emissions reporting that are consistent across jurisdictions and inline with international standards. The Climate Registry enables harmonization between mandatory and regulatory reporting programs and is supported and guided by a Board of Directors comprised of 41 US states and the District of Columbia, 13 Canadian provinces and territories, six Mexican states and four Native Sovereign Nations.
The California Climate Action Registry will remain a legacy program under the Climate Action Reserve. The California Registry is proud that its members are well prepared to manage and reduce GHG emissions.
CALIFORNIA CLIMATE ACTION REGISTRY MEMBERSHIP
When is the final reporting year for the California Registry?
The California Registry accepted emissions inventory data through the 2009 reporting year. Verification was completed in 2010, and if authorized by members the reported data will be transferred to the California Registry’s sister organization, The Climate Registry, as will all future reporting.
What’s going to happen to data reported to the California Registry?
The data you reported in CARROT will remain publicly available in perpetuity on the California Registry website. Additionally, your CARROT data can be seamlessly transferred to The Climate Registry’s online reporting tool, CRIS.
Will I still get credit for early actions registered with the California Registry?
The California Registry has and will continue to advocate on behalf of its members to ensure that baseline inventories and early actions registered with the California Registry are recognized and credited by ARB through this process.
Why isn’t ARB using the California Registry for mandatory reporting?
Even though ARB isn’t using CARROT, it has based its mandatory reporting rules on the California Registry’s protocols consistent with AB32.
THE CLIMATE REGISTRY MEMBERSHIP
Why should I join The Climate Registry?
You should join The Climate Registry for many of the same reasons you joined the California Registry, including to continue managing your emissions and to maintain your role in addressing climate change. Numerous tangible and intangible benefits of reporting emissions include:
- Leadership
- Belong to a strong and diverse community of environmental leaders
- Risk management
- Energy efficiency
- Public disclosure and transparency
- Investment research
- Emissions reductions
- Product footprint
- Public image
- Recruitment
The Climate Registry is well positioned to influence mandatory reporting regulations and to be in compliance with them when they are implemented.
How do I join The Climate Registry?
Begin by signing the Statement of Intent.
What does it cost to join The Climate Registry?
The Climate Registry has an annual fee structure that’s based on revenue for commercial and industrial organizations. Fees for nonprofit, government and academic organizations are based on their budgets. The fee structure can be found on The Climate Registry’s website. Additionally, California Registry members are being extended a special membership rate.
What benefits do I get from joining The Climate Registry?
There are several benefits to joining The Climate Registry. First, you’ll continue managing your emissions and doing your part to address climate change. Second, you’ll be playing an important leadership role on a larger scale that extends beyond California. As emissions reporting moves beyond the state-level, you’ll have close ties to regional and national policy developments. Third, you’ll have opportunities to participate in member-only webinars and regional workshops.
Does The Climate Registry track offsets?
No. The Climate Registry is the expert in emissions inventory calculation and reporting. The Climate Action Reserve, which is the parent organization of the California Registry, tracks offset credits.
Why are the names so similar? What is different about The Climate Registry?
The Climate Registry is building upon and expanding the initial work of the California Climate Action Registry by establishing standards for emissions measurement and reporting throughout North America. The names are similar because at different times, the two organizations had the same mission. The difference now is that The Climate Registry is the platinum standard for emissions measurement and reporting, and the California Registry’s parent organization is using its expertise to focus on GHG project accounting.
EMISSIONS CALCULATIONS AND REPORTING WITH THE CLIMATE REGISTRY
How do I report my emissions to The Climate Registry?
Reporting your emissions inventory to The Climate Registry is very similar to emissions reporting with the California Registry. The Climate Registry’s General Reporting Protocol (GRP) is based on the California Registry’s protocol. You’ll still be required to use an independent verifier, and it’s very likely you’ll be able to continue using the same one you use now. The Climate Registry also has an online reporting tool, the Climate Registry Information System (CRIS), that is an updated version of CARROT.
Do I still need to use an independent verifier?
Yes, and it’s very likely you’ll be able to use the same verifier you use now.
Is verification under The Climate Registry’s protocols going to cost the same?
The Climate Registry has slightly different verification requirements from the California Registry, which may affect average verification costs. Members are encouraged to contact verifiers to get estimates.
Is The Climate Registry’s reporting protocol going to be inline with any regulations that are passed?
It’s anticipated The Climate Registry’s protocol will be in compliance with regional and national regulations. The Climate Registry works very closely with government agencies, legislators and regional regulatory groups. Its Board of Directors is composed of environmental agency directors from the US states and Canadian territories and provinces.
How will The Climate Registry help me meet my California (mandatory) reporting requirements?
The State of California has determined that mandatory reporting must be conducted according to ARB rules and that such reports must be directly submitted to ARB. Therefore, reporting to The Climate Registry would be in addition to any mandatory reporting required by California.
Does joining The Climate Registry mean I have to report emissions for all of my locations in North America?
Yes. The Climate Registry supports measuring entity-wide emissions inventories. It’s important for companies to get complete measurements of their carbon footprints. Measuring inventories for one or two of their locations is only solving part of a problem.
Are there reporting protocols for The Climate Registry?
Yes. The Climate Registry has a General Reporting Protocol (GRP) that was based on the California Registry’s GRP. It also has several industry-specific protocols, including for the electric power sector, oil and gas, and local government operations.
What’s my baseline with The Climate Registry?
You establish your base year with the first year you completely report all six GHGs to The Climate Registry.
What GHGs do I have to report to The Climate Registry?
The Climate Registry requires you report all six GHGs – carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide (N2O), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), and sulfur hexafluoride (SF6).
How will my facility-level data appear in CRIS?
Your facility-level data will be transferred into CRIS, however, it may look slightly different than how it looks in CARROT.