ACR has published version 1.1 of the Methodology for the Quantification, Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification of Greenhouse Gas Emission Reductions and Removals from The Restoration of California Deltaic and Coastal Wetlands.

ACR partnered with the Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta Conservancy, HydroFocus, University of California Berkeley and Tierra Resources to develop a new carbon offset methodology to quantify greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions from the restoration of California deltaic and coastal wetlands. Funding for methodology development was provided by the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD), the California Coastal Conservancy, Metropolitan Water District and California Department of Water Resources.

The methodology builds upon ACR’s approved methodology, Restoration of Degraded Deltaic Wetlands of the Mississippi Delta, by integrating California data and region-specific restoration techniques to create a rigorous framework for quantifying baseline and project emissions that are unique to wetlands in California.

Research in the San Joaquin delta shows that, per acre, wetlands are the most carbon-rich ecosystem. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), DWR, HydroFocus and U.C. Berkeley have been studying these wetlands since the 1980s and have documented very high rates of primary productivity and carbon sequestration in wetlands, as well as significant GHG losses due to subsidence and oxidation.

Eligible project types in the methodology will include wetland creation and a switch from row crops to rice cultivation in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, as well as tidal wetland creation in the Suisun Marsh and California coastal areas. In the absence of these projects (i.e., the baseline scenario), wetlands would continue to subside, or in some cases disappear entirely, or result in severe CO2 oxidation. If restored, these ecosystems can store large quantities of carbon in rich peat soils.

ACR’s methodology approval process includes an extensive internal review, a public comment period, and a detailed and iterative scientific peer review by a technical group of sector experts.

Version 1.1 of this methodology was published to correct errors and provide clarification for the original version.

ACR is an internationally recognized carbon crediting program that operates in global compliance and voluntary carbon markets. A nonprofit enterprise of Winrock International, ACR was founded in 1996 as the first private greenhouse gas (GHG) registry in the world with the mission of harnessing the power of markets to improve the environment.

As in the current approved version of the methodology, greenhouse gas emission reductions are quantified from the capture, transportation, and storage of anthropogenic CO₂. Version 2.0 of the methodology extends eligibility to projects that generate removals through the use of carbon dioxide removal technologies, such as direct air capture and the use of sustainable biomass as a fuel or feedstock. The methodology also expands the eligibility for geologic storage reservoirs to include saline reservoirs and depleted oil and gas reservoirs. For projects that utilize CO₂ for enhanced oil recovery, Version 2.0 includes a sunset on eligibility for crediting, as well as calculations to account for emissions from transportation, refining, and end use of the produced oil.

The public comment period for the methodology is closed. The public comment version of the methodology is available for download here.

The methodology is currently in the peer review phase with publication expected in late 2025.

Version 2.0 of this methodology includes changes listed in Methodology Summary of Changes V 1.2 to 2.0.

The intent of the Methodology is to incentivize GHG emission reductions through the use of certified reclaimed HFC refrigerants, propellants and fire suppressants to displace the production and use of virgin HFC refrigerants, propellants, and fire suppressants.

According to the EPA Inventory for U.S. Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions and Sinks: 1990-2019, the substitution of ODS with chemicals used as ODS alternatives such as hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) accounted for 170.6 MMT CO2eq for year 2019, which is 45.6% of all Industrial Processes and Product Use (IPPU) emissions for that year. HFCs are used as coolants in refrigeration and air conditioning (A/C) systems, as propellants in aerosol sprays and medical devices, as fire-extinguishing agents in fire suppression equipment, and as insulation foam blowing agents. While HFCs are not ODS and therefore an acceptable substitute under the Montreal Protocol, they have high global warming potentials (GWPs) and contribute to GHG emissions.

According to the HFC reclamation data reported to the U.S. EPA, for years 2017 to 2020, only around 2% of the HFC available for use in the U.S. came from reclaimed HFC for all four years. Typically, virgin (newly produced, never previously used) HFC is used to “charge” refrigeration and A/C systems and various types of equipment when they are manufactured and installed, and when the systems leak during normal operations. Re-using previously used HFC that has been recovered from equipment, and reclaimed to virgin-grade purity, either to “recharge” existing systems that require servicing, or in newly manufactured equipment, displaces new production of virgin HFC that would otherwise be manufactured to meet that demand.

ACR is an internationally recognized carbon crediting program that operates in global compliance and voluntary carbon markets. A nonprofit enterprise of Winrock International, ACR was founded in 1996 as the first private greenhouse gas (GHG) registry in the world with the mission of harnessing the power of markets to improve the environment.

The methodology was developed by ACR.

Version 3.0 updates previous versions that were developed in partnership with Dentons U.S., LLP, Foam Supplies, Inc., Global Chemical Consultants, and Susan Wood Consulting. True Manufacturing, Inc., cooperated with version 2.0 of this methodology.

It is common for foam used in certain technologies to be produced using blowing agents that contain hydrofluorocarbons (HFC) which are released during foam manufacture, use, and at end-of-life. According to the EPA Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions and Sinks, industrial process emissions account for over 300 MMT CO2e/year, over half of which is from chemicals such as HFCs.

HFCs have relatively high global warming potentials and are also considered short-lived climate pollutants so mitigating emissions of HFC is important for limiting near term climate impacts. In fact, emissions of HFCs are considered one of the fastest growing sources of GHG emissions globally and there is currently no globally agreed phase out schedule for HFC consumption or production.

Alternatives to these HFC-based blowing agents are available but are not currently commonly used in certain segments of the foam manufacturing industry. The eligible sectors included in the methodology are as follows:

• Extruded polystyrene boardstock
• Two-component rigid polyurethane spray foam
• Rigid polyurethane foam used in residential refrigerators and freezers
• Rigid polyurethane injected foam used in the following sub-applications:
  • Marine flotation or buoyancy
  • Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Air Handling Systems
  • Refrigerated Transport
  • Industrial Refrigeration Systems
  • Garage and entry doors
  • Retail Food Refrigeration

ACR is an internationally recognized carbon crediting program that operates in global compliance and voluntary carbon markets. A nonprofit enterprise of Winrock International, ACR was founded in 1996 as the first private greenhouse gas (GHG) registry in the world with the mission of harnessing the power of markets to improve the environment.

The methodology quantifies greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions and removals resulting from improved forest management (IFM) activities on aggregated ownerships of non-industrial private forestlands, ranging from 40–5,000 forested acres. Emission reductions are quantified from forest carbon projects that exceed baseline forest management practices, and removals are quantified for retention of annual forest growth. The primary carbon sequestration mechanism is the commitment to forego harvesting, grow trees longer and increase forest stocking.

Despite owning nearly 40% of U.S. forestlands, less than 1% of small forest ownerships have enrolled in the carbon market to date. This is due to known financial and institutional barriers associated with the scale and complexity of the existing market. This methodology, developed in partnership with Finite Carbon and ACR, draws upon our collective market experience to introduce innovative aggregation, monitoring and verification approaches that alleviate these barriers.

ACR is an internationally recognized carbon crediting program that operates in global compliance and voluntary carbon markets. A nonprofit enterprise of Winrock International, ACR was founded in 1996 as the first private greenhouse gas (GHG) registry in the world with the mission of harnessing the power of markets to improve the environment.

Similar to the ACR’s published Improved Forest Management Methodology for Quantifying GHG Removals and Emission Reductions through Increased Forest Carbon Sequestration on Non-Federal U.S. Forestlands, the new methodology provides a rigorous scientific framework for offset project development, registration and verification of  greenhouse gas emission reductions resulting from forest carbon projects on eligible Canadian lands that reduce emissions by exceeding baseline forest management practices. Removals are quantified for increased sequestration through retention of annual forest growth when project activities exceed the baseline. The methodology is applicable to all Canadian forestlands that are not subject to provincial or federal forest management regulations.

This methodology was developed by Dr. John A. Kershaw and Yung-Han Hsu, based in Fredericton, NB, Canada, as well as Bluesource LLC., Finite Carbon and ACR, and was based largely on an existing version of ACR’s U.S.-based IFM methodology originally developed by Finite Carbon and updated by Matt Delaney and David Ford of L&C Carbon and Greg Latta of Oregon State University.

ACR is an internationally recognized carbon crediting program that operates in global compliance and voluntary carbon markets. A nonprofit enterprise of Winrock International, ACR was founded in 1996 as the first private greenhouse gas (GHG) registry in the world with the mission of harnessing the power of markets to improve the environment.

The methodology was authored by Blue Strategies and approved through ACR’s public comment and scientific peer review process.

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is the capture of carbon dioxide (CO2) from industrial processes or direct air capture of atmospheric CO2, followed by compression, transport, and injection for permanent storage of CO2 in deep underground geologic formations. By preventing CO2 from large-scale industrial facilities from entering the atmosphere or removing CO2 that currently resides in the atmosphere, CCS is a powerful tool for addressing climate change. Only anthropogenic CO2 that would otherwise be released to the atmosphere under business-as-usual conditions is eligible to create credits under this methodology. The methodology applies to multiple CO2 source types, including electric power plants equipped with pre-combustion, post-combustion, or oxy-fired technologies; industrial facilities such as natural gas production, fertilizer manufacturing, ethanol production; polygeneration facilities (facilities producing electricity and one or more of other commercial grade byproducts); and direct air capture (DAC) facilities. CO2 transport may be by pipeline only.

While there are multiple options possible for geological storage, this methodology applies to enhanced oil and gas recovery projects only, in which CO2 is injected to enhance production from hydrocarbon-producing reservoirs or currently non-producing reservoirs. Geologic storage is defined as the placement of CO2 into a subsurface formation where it will remain safely and permanently stored. Accounting aspects of the methodology are based on the Greenhouse Gas Accounting Framework for Carbon Capture and Storage Projects, a multi-stakeholder process led by the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions, for which both ACR and Blue Strategies served as workgroup participants.

ACR is an internationally recognized carbon crediting program that operates in global compliance and voluntary carbon markets. A nonprofit enterprise of Winrock International, ACR was founded in 1996 as the first private greenhouse gas (GHG) registry in the world with the mission of harnessing the power of markets to improve the environment.

The Methodology builds on ACR’s existing ODS and High GWP Foam destruction methodology – applicable only for U.S. domestically sourced ODS – adding applicability, eligibility, and monitoring provisions for ODS sourced from and/or destroyed in locations outside of the U.S. and its territories.

Chloroflourocarbons (CFCs) are, amongst other uses, used in refrigeration and air conditioning systems, aerosol sprays, blowing agents for foam and solvent. CFCs are classified as Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) because they deplete the stratospheric ozone layer. Additionally, they have extremely high global warming potentials (GWPs) in most cases.

Under the Montreal Protocol, the production of CFC refrigerants is phased out. However, the use of these ODS is not prohibited. In certain situations, the ODS may be recycled but this practice leads to ODS refrigerants leaking into the atmosphere at very high rates. Worse still, ODS are sometimes vented during servicing or disposal of equipment though certain countries ban this practice. Because destruction is not mandated, unused supplies can be stored for long periods over which time they leak into the atmosphere.

The ACR Methodology provides a framework for the quantification, monitoring, reporting and verification of GHG gas emission reductions associated with the sourcing and destruction of high GWP ODS sourced from equipment, refrigeration systems, or other supplies, including but not limited to cans, cylinders, and other containers of recovered, reclaimed or unused ODS. All eligible ODS must be sourced from locations outside of the U.S. and its territories. ODS can be destroyed at facilities within and outside of the U.S. that meet the requirements in the methodology.

ACR is an internationally recognized carbon crediting program that operates in global compliance and voluntary carbon markets. A nonprofit enterprise of Winrock International, ACR was founded in 1996 as the first private greenhouse gas (GHG) registry in the world with the mission of harnessing the power of markets to improve the environment.