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Greenhouse GasThe Environmental Protection Agency's Climate Leaders Program assists utilities in measuring greenhouse gas emissions, setting emissions reduction goals, and receiving public recognition for their commitment. Accounting for, managing and reducing greenhouse gas emissions are important issues for utilities addressing increased public concern of emissions-induced climate change. In February 2003, the American Public Power Association and the Large Public Power Council made
a public commitment in support of the President's
Climate Change Challenge which includes a nation-wide
goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions intensity
18 percent by 2012. As of February 2003, utilities
representing over 60 percent of public power's
total generation have expressed an intention
to reduce GHG emissions. Individual public power companies that have made internal or public commitments to reduce GHG emissions and have taken actions towards this reduction might consider participating in the U.S. EPA's voluntary Climate Leaders program. This federal initiative is "a voluntary industry- government partnership that encourages companies to develop long-term comprehensive climate change strategies and set greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals." Becoming a Climate Leaders partner carries two main benefits:
For participants, the Climate Leaders program goes beyond reporting emissions reductions in the 1605B registry. The EPA provides Climate Leaders 'partners' with free technical assistance in developing a corporate inventory of GHG emissions, using an internationally recognized protocol1. The higher standard for reporting helps to ensure greater credibility of emissions reductions achievements. EPA also provides free assistance in setting a voluntary reduction goal, which should be "aggressive for the industry sector," and well beyond business as usual. Because of the higher standards for reporting emissions and for company-specific commitments and goals, the EPA is able to offer Climate Leaders partners a level of recognition not available through the 1605B program. This recognition will also tend to have greater credibility with environmental groups than reporting of emissions under 1605b. To become a Climate
Leaders Partner, a company
must commit to three actions:
The GHG inventory is a valuable asset that can be used for documenting (and possibly receiving credits for) early emissions reductions in anticipation of potential GHG emissions regulations. The inventory is also essential for participating in voluntary emissions trading programs. In addition, documenting emissions reductions can help improve a company's environmental image and public recognition from the EPA adds credibility to claims of environmental achievements in the eyes of customers, shareholders, and other stakeholders. As one of the sub-contractors to the EPA for the Climate Leaders program, a team from the E SOURCE product line of Platts Research & Consulting offers free technical assistance to Climate Leaders partners in the completion of GHG emissions inventories. This assistance includes guidance on thorough and relevant data collection; using the appropriate emissions factors; estimating emissions from de minimus sources; and reviewing the sources and quality of the data. In addition E SOURCE can assist the company in setting reduction goals. To date, PR&C has supported ten companies in the completion of their GHG inventories, some for Climate Leaders compliance and some as independent consulting projects. The Climate Leaders companies include six industrials - Johnson & Johnson, SC Johnson, Miller Brewing, Pfizer, Lockheed Martin, Bethlehem Steel; and two utilities/power generating companies – WE Energies and Florida Power and Light. A few of these companies have since made public goals towards reducing GHG emissions. PR&C has also completed inventories for two electric utilities – Cinergy and Lincoln Electric System – in independent consulting projects. PR&C is currently assisting Exelon, U.S. Steel, Fetzer Vineyards, and Unilever Home and Personal Products Division in the completion of their inventories. For more information on becoming a Climate Leaders Climate Partner or receiving assistance in the development of a GHG inventory and management strategy independently of Climate Leaders (on a consulting basis), please contact: Neil Kolwey
1 The EPA's Climate Leaders program follows the guidelines for the corporate greenhouse gas inventory of the "Greenhouse Gas Protocol" developed by the World Resource Institute (WRI) and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development. The EPA, for the Climate Leaders program, has provided more detailed guidance and modified the WRI protocol to reflect U.S. activities. |
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