 Regulations to limit greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are in place or are emerging in a number of states as well as in Canada, Europe, Japan, and elsewhere. California has signed into law the first U.S. GHG emissions cap on utilities, refineries, and manufacturing plants. In addition, shareholders, large investor groups, and insurance firms are increasingly pressuring organizations to estimate and manage their financial risks from climate change.
The time for GHG emissions reduction planning is now; the first step is to quantify your current emissions.
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Hundreds of U.S. companies are leveraging voluntary climate-change programs to help develop cost-effective plans for responding to future greenhouse gas (GHG) regulations. Many companies in these programs are taking moderate steps to reduce their GHG emissions, and some are setting aggressive emissions-reduction goals and positioning themselves as leaders. Businesses are joining these programs for a variety of reasons, ranging from pressure by investors and environmental groups to a desire for a stronger voice in shaping climate-change policy.
Download Free White Paper: Voluntary Climate Change Programs
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Understanding your current GHG emissions profile provides the basis for weighing your strategic options and creating opportunities to enhance your business image and competitiveness. Completing a GHG inventory will allow your company to
- Estimate financial risks under future state, regional, or national climate-change policies and regulations;
- Report emissions (and risks) to shareholders;
- Identify opportunities to reduce emissions; and
- Evaluate whether to join a voluntary climate-change program or emissions registry.
We'll help you complete a comprehensive GHG inventory, provide your organization with a long-term inventory management plan, and equip you with the tools to manage the inventory process going forward.
A GHG inventory enables you to
- Clarify your organizational boundaries (for example, which emissions are the responsibility of your company and which are not).
- Be confident that your baseline data are accurate through our rigorous preinventory validation process.
- Know your total emissions by type (by base year and additional years, as desired). We will uncover any trends, assess emissions intensity, and identify opportunities for emissions reductions.
- Be equipped with a detailed road map (or Inventory Management Plan [IMP]) for updating and maintaining your inventory for years into the future. The IMP documents data sources, emissions quantification methods, and emission factors. It identifies key staff roles and responsibilities for managing the process and updating the inventory in future years. And it provides preparation for possible third-party verification of the inventory.
- Understand the business strategies and emissions reporting options you might consider.
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Before beginning an inventory at any level, it is helpful to understand some basic principles of inventories. These principles provide the basis for tracking your company's GHG emissions from year to year and for comparing emissions totals among different companies. Currently, the standard international protocol for corporate greenhouse gas inventories is the GHG Protocol, based largely on commonly accepted financial accounting principles, which was developed by the World Resources Institute (WRI) and the World Business Council on Sustainable Development (WBCSD). The GHG Protocol explains five principles for a good, quality inventory.
- Relevance, which means that the inventory includes the appropriate facilities and types of emissions sources to meet the company's goals.
- Completeness, which means that an adequate percentage of the company's total facilities and emissions sources have been included in the inventory.
- Consistency, which means that the same facilities, emissions sources, and emissions quantification methods are used from year to year.
- Accuracy, which means using accepted quantification methods and emissions factors as well as managing data quality.
- Transparency, which means that the important boundary decisions, data sources, and quantification methods are well documented.
The GHG Protocol is used as the basis for many programs, including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Climate Leaders program, the California Climate Action Registry, and the Chicago Climate Exchange. In addition, the EU's Emissions Trading Scheme uses parts of the GHG Protocol.
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Based on the results of the inventory and your company's situation, we can help you evaluate the costs and benefits of joining the many emissions registries and voluntary programs available to you.
Our experts are available to provide half-day on-site customized workshops on climate-related business issues. Available modules include:
- Regulatory and policy developments and implications
- GHG trading markets
- Voluntary climate-change programs
- The inventory and data process
- Stakeholder relations
- Strategic business options
E Source experts have the knowledge and experience to help you answer these questions and navigate this new challenge. Our independent, unbiased approach means that we deliver clear, comprehensive inventories and assessments and that our recommendations are the right ones for your needs.
We know your business, and we know the GHG landscape. Over the past couple of years, E Source has completed dozens of GHG inventories for both large utilities and large industrial emitters. E Source has provided technical support to the EPA Climate Leaders Program since its inception in 2002. This role affords us an insider's view into the various regulatory scenarios that are likely to unfold. Our GHG knowledge and experience enable us to drive best practice GHG inventory management approaches and emissions reduction risk-mitigation strategies.
Download brochure (80 KB PDF)
Call us today to find out how we can help you solve your greenhouse gas emissions challenges.
Michael Shepard
President
303-345-9129
michael_shepard@esource.com
Neil Kolwey
Research Manager
303-345-9123
neil_kolwey@esource.com
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