CSA Unveils GHG Cleanstart Registry for Carbon Performance
October 13, 2008 // Published as a news service by IHS
The Canadian Standards Association (CSA) announced its new GHG CleanStart Registry, a web-based tool that provides a framework for reporting an organization's greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory and assisting businesses of all sizes by providing information to help them achieve carbon neutrality.
The GHG CleanStart Registry is designed for organizations, governments and other users to showcase how they have measured their carbon footprint and how they plan to reduce it.
The registry offers guidance and tools to help better understand the process involved in establishing a carbon footprint, and the steps involved in reducing, offsetting and eliminating emissions.
"CSA's GHG CleanStart Registry is a web-based environmental roadmap for organizations of all sizes," said Suzanne Kiraly, president of standards at CSA.
"Climate change is now driving public policy and corporate decisions. CSA's GHG CleanStart Registry offers organizations a framework to support and drive greenhouse gas reductions, help achieve carbon neutrality and share their success with the public and stakeholders."
Many of today's senior decision-makers want to know the size of their organization's carbon footprint. To do so, they need the tools to measure and report their progress on improving their carbon performance, including carbon neutrality. They are looking for cost-effective ways to improve carbon management voluntarily, or in anticipation of proposed new government regulations, CSA said.
Registration involves four essential steps:
- Complete an application form to make intent public.
- Measure current carbon footprint and complete the Carbon Footprint Report (the GHG CleanStart Registry web site offers a number of calculators, templates, checklists and guidance materials).
- Document actions, purchases of renewable energy certificates and ownership of verified emission reductions to offset emissions in the Carbon Neutral Report.
- Make a self-declaration of carbon-neutral status, or obtain third-party verification in a manner consistent with ISO 14064-3. Organizations that complete steps satisfactorily as determined by CSA will receive a CSA carbon neutral certificate and/or a letter of participation.
The GHG CleanStart Registry is accessible at http://www.ghgregistries.ca/cleanstart.
Source: Canadian Standards Association (CSA).