SACRAMENTO, CA, August 21, 2017 – The American Carbon Registry (ACR), a non-profit enterprise of Winrock International, is proud to announce it has issued more than 100 million tonnes of carbon offset credits—the equivalent of  taking over  21 million cars off the road for a year. Each credit represents a metric tonne of carbon dioxide equivalent greenhouse gas (GHG) removed from the atmosphere.

The high quality, serialized credits are from a wide range of voluntary and California-regulated carbon market projects, including: reforestation, forest management, avoided conversion of forests, destruction of ozone depleting substances, mine methane capture, advanced refrigeration systems, transportation fleet efficiency, livestock manure management, avoided conversion of grasslands, rice cultivation, advanced formulation foam blowing agents, landfill gas capture, industrial processes and renewable energy. Voluntary credits can be retired by corporations or individuals to reduce their carbon footprints, while California market credits can be used by regulated entities in the state and in linked jurisdictions such as Quebec towards their emissions reduction obligation.

“We are very excited by this milestone, which shows we are successfully harnessing the power of markets to improve the environment,” said John Kadyszewski, ACR Director. “We aim to enhance market confidence and to catalyze transformational emissions reductions through the development of innovative methods to measure, report and verify GHG emissions reductions in sectors such as agriculture, land use and forestry, high global warming potential refrigerants, transportation and energy. We hope better methods and metrics can increase private sector investment and ambition so we can surpass targets set under the Paris Agreement.”

ACR was founded in 1996 and joined Winrock in 2007 to help Winrock fulfill its mission to empower the disadvantaged, increase economic opportunity and sustain natural resources. Winrock believes that climate change will have a profound impact on the poorest populations around the world and that markets are the quickest and most effective path to mobilize actions to reduce emissions.

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CONTACT

MGrady@winrock.org 805-884-1961

Chris.Hancock@winrock.org 501-319-2033

The American Carbon Registry (ACR) has open for public comment a Methodology for the Quantification, Monitoring, Reporting and Verification of Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reductions or Removals from Avoided Planned Land Use Conversion in Peat Swamp Forests.

The Methodology, developed by Winrock International and Infinite Earth, outlines methods to quantify the avoided net greenhouse gas emissions resulting from project activities implemented to stop planned land use conversion on undrained tropical peat swamp forests in southeast Asia.

Please submit public comments to ACR@Winrock.org by September 18, 2017.

SACRAMENTO, CA, August 2, 2017 – The American Carbon Registry (ACR), a non-profit enterprise of Winrock International, has published a new Methodology for the Quantification, Monitoring, Reporting and Verification of GHG Emissions Reductions from the Destruction of Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) and High-Global Warming Potential (GWP) Foam. The Methodology developed by EOS Climate and ACR significantly and substantively expands the California Air Resources Board (ARB) ODS Compliance Offset Protocol to include multiple additional eligible sources of ODS and foam, new monitoring and verification methods and destruction facilities, and updated quantification, emissions factors and sources. The emissions reduction potential in the U.S. alone from the destruction of ODS and foam totals over 50 MMT CO2e by 2020, equivalent to taking over ten million cars off the road each year.

Chloroflourocarbons (CFCs) and hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) are used in refrigeration and air conditioning systems, aerosol sprays and medical devices as well as foam blowing agents for the manufacture of insulation and noise reduction in buildings, appliances, coolers, marine applications and industrial pipe insulation. CFCs and HCFCs are classified as Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) because they deplete the stratospheric ozone layer, and they have extremely high GWPs, ranging from 4,750 to 10,900 times more potent to the atmosphere than CO2.

Under the Montreal Protocol, the production of CFC refrigerants in the U.S. is phased out and the production of HCFC-22 will be phased out by 2020. However, the use of these ODS is not prohibited, and standard practice is to recycle these compounds for reuse. This practice leads to ODS refrigerants leaking into the atmosphere at rates estimated by the EPA to be up to 25 percent annually.

By providing a financial incentive through the carbon market, the ARB Offset Protocol has incentivized the destruction of ODS resulting in 15 MMT of emissions reductions over the last decade. ACR’s new methodology will build on that success and more broadly incentivize large-scale GHG emissions reductions from the destruction of ODS and foams.

The ACR methodology includes new eligible sources of ODS used in air conditioning and refrigeration equipment, in medical aerosol applications and for fire suppression. Additionally, to incentivize foam destruction projects, of which there have been none to date, the ACR methodology includes multiple new eligible foam sources including walk-in coolers, refrigerated transportation, refrigeration cases, pipe insulation and marine foam, and provides new emission factors and quantification methods for foam projects as well as for monitoring destruction events conducted at destruction facilities that are a part of an enclosed equipment de-manufacturing system. Foam projects have the potential to supply 30 MMT of CO2e emissions reductions by 2020.

“This expanded Methodology provides needed updates to EOS Climate’s original, circa-2008 ODS offset protocol to reflect new science, current regulatory and baseline conditions, and advances in recycling and destruction technologies”, said Jeff Cohen of EOS Climate. “ODS projects under California’s cap-and-trade program have prevented the equivalent of millions of tons of carbon emissions, while also speeding the transition to climate-friendly advanced technologies. We have a limited time window to permanently retire the remaining inventories of these most powerful climate pollutants before they get released to the atmosphere, while ensuring correct carbon accounting. It is important for California, Ontario and other regulated markets to review this updated Methodology for inclusion in their programs.”

SACRAMENTO, Calif., April 25, 2017 – Today the American Carbon Registry (ACR), a nonprofit enterprise of Winrock International, announced approval of a new carbon offset methodology to scientifically quantify greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions from the restoration of California deltaic and coastal wetlands. The methodology was developed by a high-profile group of partners — the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Conservancy as lead agency and HydroFocus as lead author with technical support from the University of California at Berkeley and Tierra Resources. Funding for the methodology was provided by the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD), the California Coastal Conservancy, the Metropolitan Water District and California Department of Water Resources (DWR).

The new ACR methodology combines California data and restoration techniques to create a rigorous scientific framework for carbon offset project development. Opportunities are abundant to enhance current land-use practices by restoring wetlands or converting to rice cultivation in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, Suisun Marsh, and California coastal areas. Carbon offsets generated by the projects can be sold to corporations to meet their voluntary emissions-reduction goals. Additional sources of offsets are also being considered by California regulators for eligibility in the state’s Cap-and-Trade Program, under which power plants and oil refineries are mandated to reduce or offset their emissions.

“Restoration activities that rebuild subsided lands are critical to long-term ecosystem sustainability, are important to reducing the risk of levy failure and sea level rise, and are a significant source of GHG emissions reductions.” said Steve Deverel, President of HydroFocus.

In the Bay-Delta Area, more than 90 percent of historic tidal wetlands disappeared in the last 150 years. Over 2.5 billion cubic meters of organic soils have disappeared since delta islands were first diked and drained for agriculture in the late 1800s, resulting in land subsidence up to 25 feet below sea level. Drained and cultivated organic soils continue to oxidize, subside and emit an estimated 1.5 to 2 million metric tons of CO2-equivalent annually — equal to annual emissions from over 300,000 passenger vehicles.

Research in freshwater emergent wetlands on delta organic soils shows that carbon capture wetlands are the most carbon-rich landscape per acre. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), DWR, HydroFocus and the University of California at Berkeley have been studying subsidence and GHG emissions of rice and managed wetlands in the delta since the 1980s and have documented very high rates of primary productivity in wetlands.

“State and federal funding remains insufficient to address land subsidence that threatens the California water system, and carbon market revenues could help fill the funding gap,” said Campbell Ingram, executive officer of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Conservancy. ”The new ACR methodology provides an incentive to landowners in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, Suisun Marsh, and other historically natural wetland areas in California to convert their most subsided and marginal agricultural lands to wetlands or to produce wetlands crops such as rice, which will stop land subsidence and reverse it over time.”

SACRAMENTO, CA, March 28, 2017 – The American Carbon Registry (ACR), a nonprofit enterprise of Winrock International, has approved a methodology for generating carbon offset credits from Landfill Gas Destruction and Beneficial Use projects. The methodology was developed by ACR with technical support from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Landfill Methane Outreach Program.

The decomposition of waste in landfills produces landfill gas (LFG), which is comprised of about half methane and half carbon dioxide. Methane is a greenhouse gas (GHG) that is 25 to 86 times more potent than carbon dioxide and is also considered a short-lived climate pollutant. Therefore, mitigating methane emissions is important for limiting near term climate impacts.

GHG emissions from over 2,400 U.S. landfills are the third largest source of methane emissions in the country, accounting for annual emissions equivalent to over 31 million passenger vehicles. The collection and combustion of methane that would otherwise have been vented into the atmosphere is an effective method for decreasing GHG emissions from landfills.

Additionally, significant opportunities exist for LFG to be captured and used as an energy resource to generate heat and electricity. It can also be processed and sent into natural gas pipelines or as clean fuel for vehicle fleets.

LFG collection and control systems and systems for beneficial energy use, however, are expensive to install and operate. The new ACR methodology is intended to provide access to carbon market finance to incentivize LFG capture and destruction at unregulated landfills and to stimulate investment in LFG beneficial use energy projects.

“ACR’s approval of this methodology is an important step to reward landfills that are going beyond business as usual to stimulate meaningful emissions reductions and to promote the use of LFG as a clean energy resource,” said Mary Grady, American Carbon Registry deputy director.

ACR’s LFG Destruction and Beneficial Use methodology will be highlighted at this week’s annual meeting of the Solid Waste Association of North America, SWANApalooza in Nevada.

SACRAMENTO, CA, February 17, 2017 – The American Carbon Registry (ACR), a nonprofit enterprise of Winrock International, is proposing updates to the following Program documents and is soliciting public comments:

1)  The American Carbon Registry (ACR) Standard v4.0, which details ACR’s requirements and specifications for the quantification, monitoring, and reporting of project-based GHG emissions reductions and removals, verification, project registration, and issuance of offsets

Stakeholders are invited to review the proposed changes to the ACR Standard posted on the ACR website and submit comments to ACR@Winrock.org by March 20, 2017.

2)   ACR Validation and Verification Standard, which details requirements for Validation and Verification Bodies as well as for independent third-party validation and verification of all carbon offset projects.

Stakeholders are invited review the proposed changes posted on the ACR website and submit comments to ACR@Winrock.org by March 20, 2017.

SACRAMENTO, November 1, 2016 – The American Carbon Registry (ACR), a nonprofit enterprise of Winrock International, announces an open public comment period for modifications to the methodology for Improved Forest Management Methodology for Quantifying GHG Removals and Emission Reductions through Increased Forest Carbon Sequestration on Non-Federal U.S. Forestlands. The methodology revision is proposed by Blue Source, TerraCarbon and L&C Carbon. Detailed information is included on the ACR methodology webpage.

ACR is accepting public comments on the proposed changes through November 30, 2016. Please send comments to ACR@Winrock.org.

May 2, 2016 – The American Carbon Registry (ACR), a nonprofit enterprise of Winrock International, has announced an open public comment period and is accepting stakeholder comments on the following three offset methodologies that are in the ACR approval process:

1)    A new methodology entitled Emission Reduction Measurement and Monitoring Methodology for Destruction of Ozone Depleting Substances and High-GWP Foam. The methodology is an update to the 2014 California Air Resources Board’s (CARB) Compliance Offset Protocol for Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) Projects including proposed changes to eligible sources of ODS, updated emissions factors, new methods for foam projects and new methods for monitoring destruction events

2)    A new wetlands methodology entitled Accounting for the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Benefits of Pocosin Restoration. The methodology details the requirements for the quantification of greenhouse gas emissions reductions associated with rewetting previously drained pocosin wetlands in the Atlantic coastal plain of the southeastern U.S.

3)    A new methodology for Emissions Reductions from Landfill Gas Destruction and Beneficial Use Projects. The methodology provides the quantification and accounting frameworks for the destruction or utilization of landfill gas at eligible landfills in the U.S.

Visit ACR’s website for details on these proposed modifications.

Please send comments to ACR@winrock.org by June 3, 2016.