Climate Action Reserve Program Manual


The Program Manual summarizes the overarching rules, policies and procedures for registering projects and creating offset credits with the Reserve. It also describes the process used by the Reserve to develop protocols for determining the eligibility of, and quantifying reductions from, carbon offset projects.



 


 


Livestock

The Livestock Project Reporting Protocol provides guidance to account for and report emissions reductions associated with installing a manure biogas control system for livestock operations, such as dairy cattle and swine farms. The protocol focuses on quantifying the change in methane emissions, but also accounts for effects on carbon dioxide emissions. Project developers that install manure biogas capture and destruction technologies use the livestock protocol to register GHG reductions with the California Registry. The protocol provides eligibility rules, methods to calculate reductions, performance-monitoring instructions, and procedures for reporting project information to the California Registry.


 


 


Forest


Forests have the capacity to both emit and sequester carbon dioxide, a lead greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change. The Forest Project Protocol is the California Registry’s guide for the design, implementation and registration of forest projects. The protocol is written for forest project developers who wish to undertake a forest project. Only those forest projects that comply with this protocol may be reported to and verified by the Registry.




 


 


Landfill


The Landfill Project Reporting Protocol provides guidance to quantify and report GHG emission reductions associated with installing a landfill gas collection and destruction system at landfill operations. The Landfill Project Protocol is applicable nationwide. Project developers can use this protocol to register GHG reductions with the California Registry’s Climate Action Reserve.



 


Urban Forests


The Urban Forest Protocol is a sector-specific greenhouse gas (GHG) project protocol that provides guidance to account for real, additional, and credible GHG reductions from urban tree planting projects for registration in the Climate Action Reserve. The draft protocol provides eligibility rules, methods to calculate reductions, performance-monitoring instructions, and procedures for reporting project information.