REPORTING

Q: Why is 2009 the last year for which the California Climate Action Registry is accepting emissions reports?

A: Climate change is a global issue, and emissions reporting belongs on an international level. The California Registry realizes that any success in reporting and reducing emissions must be based on consistent standards in an integrated system that stretches beyond California’s borders. For this reason, the California Registry transitioned its members to The Climate Registry and 2009 was the last year for which it accepted emissions reports.

Q: What are the reporting and verification deadlines for 2009 emissions reports?

A: The reporting deadline was June 30, 2010, and the verification deadline was October 31, 2010. Members needed to submit their reports by the reporting and verification deadlines as CARROT (the California Registry’s Online Reporting Tool) became read-only on December 31, 2010.

Q: Why are emissions reports made available to the public?

A: Transparency is one of the key principles of the California Registry. This transparency provides interested parties with valuable information, holds organizations accountable for their carbon emissions and helps inspire confidence in our GHG emissions calculation methodologies.

Q: Could an organization choose to keep its emissions reports sealed and unavailable to the public?

A: No.  As transparency is an important tenet of the California Registry program, emissions reports are made available to the public. However, private information and trade secrets are always kept confidential.

Q: What will happen to previous emissions reports submitted to the California Registry?

A: Emissions reports will remain publicly accessible in perpetuity on the California Registry website. Emission reports were also transferred to The Climate Registry’s Information System, CRIS, for dual and transitioning members.

THE CLIMATE REGISTRY

Q: How is The Climate Registry different from the California Climate Action Registry?

A: The Climate Registry is the sister program of the California Climate Action Registry, and it supports entity-wide GHG emissions inventory reporting and verification for all of North America. While the California Registry was created by the State of California to encourage and ensure recognition of early voluntary actions to manage and reduce GHG emissions, The Climate Registry is focused on emissions reporting beyond California’s borders to include all of North America. Currently, The Climate Registry is governed by 41 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, 13 Canadian provinces and territories, six Mexican states and four Native Sovereign Nations. More information about The Climate Registry is available at www.theclimateregistry.org.

To view a comparison of the California Registry and The Climate Registry, please click here.

Q: If I am a dual member of the California Registry and The Climate Registry, should I report my 2009 inventory to CARROT or CRIS?

A: The California Registry encourages all members to report 2009 emissions to the California Registry in CARROT and transition to reporting 2010 emissions to The Climate Registry using CRIS.

Q: If I am transitioning to The Climate Registry, when will my emissions data be transferred to CRIS, and is there a cost to do so?

A: The California Registry and The Climate Registry will be collaborating to transfer your data from CARROT to CRIS in 2011. If you are a dual-member of both the California Registry and The Climate Registry for 2009 reporting, your data will be transferred free of charge. If you are not a dual member, the following transfer fees apply:

– 1-3 years of data = 25% of your Annual Membership Fee
– 4+ years of data = 50% of your Annual Membership Fee

Please contact The Climate Registry with questions regarding transition:
(866) 523-0764 | [email protected]

CLIMATE ACTION RESERVE

Q: How is the California Climate Action Registry different from the Climate Action Reserve?

A: The Climate Action Reserve is a carbon offsets registry and the parent organization of the California Climate Action Registry. While the California Registry focuses on GHG emission inventories, the Reserve focuses on GHG emissions reductions. The Reserve develops standardized methodologies to calculate emissions reductions from offset projects and serves as a registry that issues and tracks offsets through a publicly accessible database.

Q: How do I offset my California Registry inventory?

A: The California Registry encourages members to consider offseting their emissions inventories. In order to maximize benefit to the environment, organizations should first reduce emissions wherever possible through energy efficiency, equipment upgrades and other best practice opportunities. Offsetting remaining emissions allows you to become carbon neutral. The Reserve issues high-quality offsets that denote true environmental benefit, known as Climate Reserve Tonnes (CRTs). CRTs are sold by retailers, project developers, brokers and exchanges. The Reserve is not a party to the sale, purchase or trade of CRTs. For information on purchasing CRTs, please visit the CRT Marketplace (http://www.climateactionreserve.org/how/crt-marketplace/)