Postal Service Inventories Its GHGs First
The U.S. Postal Service has recognized Ryerson, Master and Associates, Inc. (RMA) for its critical role in developing a comprehensive, verified greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory of the Postal Service's 2007 operations, making the Postal Service the first U.S. federal agency to complete and publicly report a GHG inventory for its entire U.S. operations.
The Postal Service elected to quantify and publicly report its GHG inventory voluntarily. Other federal agencies are expected to follow the Postal Service's lead due in part to the Executive Order signed by President Obama earlier this month requiring all federal agencies to measure and reduce GHG emissions.
Due to the Postal Service's complex operations, which include delivery of an estimated 175 billion pieces of mail in fiscal year 2009 through the largest civilian vehicle fleet in the world, RMA conducted an extensive analysis to determine the best methodologies for calculating Postal Service GHG emissions. RMA then developed a comprehensive carbon footprint for the Postal Service, which resulted in a reported GHG inventory of 5.3 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents (CO2e).
The inventory was independently verified by Det Norske Veritas and accepted into the California Climate Action Registry (CCAR), the primary GHG registry in the United States.
"We're honored to be working with a federal agency that is committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions," commented DeAnn Sarver, director of Carbon Management Services at RMA. She added, "We're proud to be alongside the United States Postal Service as it leads the federal government in shaping U.S. climate change and initiatives."
The United States Postal Service has contracted RMA to develop its 2008 and 2009 GHG inventories and continues to engage RMA for other climate change services.