ICLEI and The Climate Registry Partner to Track Rigorous GHG Emissions Accounting for Local Governments

 
Organizations launch initiatives to encourage use of Local Government Operations Protocol to track and report climate action progress

(December 2, 2008 – Los Angeles and Oakland, CA) ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability, USA and The Climate Registry announced a new partnership to jointly promote responsible greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions accounting by local governments in North America. 

Through this new partnership, the two organizations will launch initiatives to encourage local governments to use the highest standards of the Local Government Operations Protocol and report their emissions as members of The Climate Registry.  By becoming members of both The Climate Registry and ICLEI, local governments will have access to the organizations’ comprehensive support for building emissions inventories.

"More than 900 mayors have committed to reduce emissions in their cities, signing the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement," said Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels.  "This protocol provides a useful tool to track progress as we reduce greenhouse gases."

The Local Government Operations Protocol details the policy framework, calculation methodologies, and reporting guidance for quantifying GHG emissions from local government operations.  By reporting their annual emissions consistently according to the Local Government Operations Protocol, local governments will be able to better manage their emissions and track reductions annually.  The protocol was jointly developed by ICLEI, The Climate Registry, the California Climate Action Registry and the California Air Resources Board.  While the protocol allows various degrees of rigor in reporting GHGs, ICLEI and The Climate Registry strongly encourage local governments use the highest tier of standards.  This demonstrates environmental responsibility and positions local governments to comprehensively manage and reduce their emissions with rigor and consistency.

“Local governments have been long-time leaders in advocating GHG reductions.  The next step in their leadership is to serve as models for reporting their own emissions publicly through The Climate Registry.  By doing this, they will be part of a consistent, transparent initiative that connects local, regional and international emissions reporting,” said Diane Wittenberg, Executive Director of The Climate Registry. 

“In order for local governments to manage their emissions portfolios they have to be able to measure them, and standards are imperative to ensure integrity,” said Michelle Wyman, Executive Director of ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability. “The Local Government Operations Protocol provides local governments the reassurance that they are following a thoroughly reviewed and nationally accepted standard.” 

THE CLIMATE REGISTRY is creating a common infrastructure for reporting corporate, governmental and other GHG emissions data. THE CLIMATE REGISTRY carbon accounting standards provide accurate, complete, consistent, transparent, comparable and verified GHG reporting. For more information visit: www.theclimateregistry.org.

ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability, USA is a membership association of 500 local governments in the U.S. ICLEI provides expertise, technical support and innovative tools to help local governments advance their emissions reductions and sustainability goals. For more information please visit www.icleiusa.org.