ANSI Pilot Program Set for GHG Management
The American National Standards Institute recently launched a new pilot accreditation program for bodies facilitating the inventory, reduction, and removal of greenhouse gases (GHG).
Applying to a broad spectrum of industries, the pilot greenhouse gas accreditation program will operate according to requirements defined in ISO 14065:2007, Greenhouse gases -- Requirements for greenhouse gas validation and verification bodies for use in accreditation or other forms of recognition.
The initiative will support the efforts of greenhouse gas programs across the United States by providing an accredited network of independent, third parties that verify and validate nationwide efforts to reduce emissions and complete carbon credit inventories.
Programs such as the California Climate Action Registry and the Chicago Climate Exchange already evaluate bodies that provide independent validation and verification of GHG emission reductions and removals.
The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, a cooperative of 10 states in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic region plus several Canadian provinces, also mandates that the GHG emission reports provided by electric generating units be validated and verified by independent bodies.
Beginning in 2009, all voluntary reports submitted to The Climate Registry must also be validated and verified by an independent, accredited body. The registry is a collaborative initiative of 40 states, the District of Columbia, seven Canadian provinces and two Mexican states.
The new pilot program will assess organizations against The Climate Registry's Verification Protocol (currently under revision), as well as the following ISO standards:
• ISO 14064-1:2006, Greenhouse gases – Part 1: Specification with guidance at the organization level for quantification and reporting of GHG emissions and removals.
• ISO 14064-2:2006, Greenhouse gases – Part 2: Specification with guidance at the project level for quantification, monitoring and reporting of GHG emission reductions or removal enhancements.
ANSI will accept applications for the pilot program from March 15 through May 15, 2008.