Counting Your Carbons

Many states and industries are watching California closely to see how it is evaluating and establishing a carbon baseline.  This program, driven by the requirements of AB32 (2006 legislation), would form the template by which other states and the EPA implement similar programs.  So is it all about counting Carbons? -  let’s take a closer look:

The California Climate Action Registry (CCAR), a non profit agency created by the government in 2001 has been accepting voluntary registration.  The CCAR accepts reporting based on the Kyoto Green House Gases - CO2, CH4, N2O, HFCs, PFCs and SF6.  However, participants may opt to report only on their CO2 emissions for the time being.  Reporting on the other five GHG emissions will follow soon enough.  CARROT is the on-line reporting mechanism that CCAR has set up - more details can be had at http://www.climateregistry.org/  Note - businesses that compile their own reports must have them reviewed by an independent ‘verifier’.

Another group, known as ‘The Climate Registry’  operates in conjunction with the CCAR and compiles data on other US states, Mexican states and Canadian provinces.   They share an office with the CCAR in Los Angeles, so you know there will a considerable amount of information exchanged between the two groups.

Under AB32, companies need to establish a 1990 baseline for CO2.  Sounds difficult, especially if there were no records kept for that year. However, years with good emissions data may be used to ’scale’  back to 1990.  This is done by linking emissions data with reliable operational data such as fuel/material usage or production numbers.   As manufacturers start to trend this data they will be able to report numbers that are representative of 1990 operations.

When documenting the overall carbon footprint there will be some gray areas related to things like outsourcing or waste disposal.  It will take some time to resolve these carbon impacts as the programs are developed.   But the sooner an operation/manufacturer can start tracking and understanding these the better.  Especially, before layers of federal regulations are put in place and a regional/state cap and trade system is developed.

So - start counting your carbons!