Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Table 2. Voluntary Emissions Disclosure Programs
Name
Participants Launch
Requirements
Quality of
Instructions
Mission
UNGC's
Caring for
Climate
(C4C)
371 total
(255 Large
Companies)
2007
Submit annual Com-
munication on Progress
(COP)
Limited
Framework for business leaders to advance
practical solutions, help shape public policy and
attitudes. Companies set goals, develop and expand
strategies and practices, and publicly disclose
emissions.
The
Carbon
Disclosure
Project
(CDP)
2,500 orga-
nizations in
60 countries
2000
Complete online ques-
tionnaire (using GHG
Protocol as framework)
Most De-
tailed
Collects and distributes high quality information
that motivates investors, corporations and govern-
ments to take action to prevent dangerous climate
change.
The Global
Reporting
Initiative
(GRI)
1,500 orga-
nizations in
60 countries
1997
Reporting framework
has flexible disclosure
options
Most
Detailed:
Cornerstone
of program is
Sustainability
Reporting
Guidelines
A network-based organization that pioneered the
most widely used sustainability reporting frame-
work and is committed to its continuous improve-
ment and application worldwide. This framework
sets out the principles and indicators that organiza-
tions can use to measure and report their economic,
environmental, and social performance.
EPA
Climate
Leaders
194
2002
Complete GHG invento-
ry using Climate Leaders
GHG Inventory Protocol,
set GHG Inventory Man-
agement Plan, set 5-10
year emissions reduction
goal, annually report
inventory data and docu-
ment progress, publicize
participation, goals and
progress.
Detailed
An EPA industry-U.S. government partnership that
works with companies to develop comprehensive
climate change strategies. Participating compa-
nies commit to reduce their impact on the global
environment by completing a corporate-wide
inventory of their greenhouse gas emissions based
on a quality management system, setting aggres-
sive reduction goals, and annually reporting their
progress to EPA.
Chicago
Climate
Exchange
(CCX)
350
2003
Members make a legally
binding emission reduc-
tion commitment.
Very Detailed The world's first and North America's only green-
house gas emissions registry, reduction and trading
system, with offsets worldwide. Voluntary to join
but targets are legally binding.
Green-
house Gas
Protocol
Corporate
Standard
(GHG
Protocol)
1000 (plus
all the mem-
bers of other
groups such
as CDP that
use this)
2001
Corporate Standard
provides standards and
guidance for companies
and other organiza-
tions preparing a GHG
emissions inventory. To
complement the standard
and guidance provided,
cross-sector and sector-
specific calculation tools
are available. These tools
provide step-by-step
guidance and electronic
worksheets to help users
calculate GHG emissions
from specific sources or
industries.
Most De-
tailed
The most widely used international accounting tool
for government and business leaders to understand,
quantify, and manage greenhouse gas emissions.
The foundation for nearly every GHG standard
and program in the world - from the International
Standards Organization to The Climate Registry -
as well as hundreds of GHG inventories prepared
by individual companies.
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