Press Release- May 08, 2007
OFFICE OF GOV. BILL RITTER, JR.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2007
Contact:
Evan Dreyer, 720.350.8370
COLORADO JOINS 30-STATE CLIMATE CHANGE EFFORT
Climate Registry to serve as North American platform to track greenhouse gas emissions
Colorado joined 29 other states today as charter members of The Climate Registry, marking the largest multi-state effort to address climate change. The list of charter members includes the states of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming and the Campo Kumeyaay Nation. Two Canadian provinces, British Columbia and Manitoba, have also committed to participate.
The voluntary registry will assist in measuring, tracking and verifying emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs), the gases that cause climate change. It will also provide the measurement and reporting infrastructure to support voluntary, mandatory, market-based and emissions reduction programs that are consistent across borders and industry sectors. The Registry will accept reporting data in January 2008.
"Participating in The Climate Registry is a critical step forward in Colorado's efforts to address climate change," Gov. Bill Ritter said. "We can only manage what we can effectively measure. Getting accurate data on GHG emissions is a vital first step towards addressing the impacts of climate change in Colorado. It also makes sense for states to share resources and synchronize our programs."
Gov. Ritter last month named Heidi VanGenderen as state government's first policy adviser on climate change. VanGenderen started in her new position on May 1 and soon will begin crafting a statewide climate change action plan.
Additional background information about the registry:
- The Climate Registry is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization governed by a Board of Directors made up of state and tribal representatives. Governors and environmental secretaries from member states and tribes joined the organization by signing on to a Statement of Principles and Goals and designating a representative to the organization's Board of Directors.
- Initial funding and in-kind support will be provided by foundations and a number of the participating states, although there is no specific obligation for state funding. Voluntary reporters will pay fees.
- Corporations, state agencies, municipalities, educational institutions and nonprofit groups are all invited to report under the voluntary program. Various states may also have specific sources and facilities required to report under state regulatory programs. In the future, offset reduction projects are also likely to be reported in The Climate Registry.
- The main function of The Climate Registry is to provide a common platform for states and tribes to measure and report emissions of greenhouse gases in an accurate, transparent manner consistent across borders and industry sectors.
- The registry is partly modeled after the California Climate Action Registry, which has successfully operated a voluntary greenhouse gas registry since 2001 with over 240 members that comprise leading multi-national corporations, state agencies, municipalities, educational institutions and environmental nonprofits. The California Registry has certified over 320 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions (roughly the annual emissions of Brazil).
- The Climate Registry was incorporated in Washington, D.C. in March 2007. It is anticipated that there will be several regional offices throughout the country. Initially, the California Climate Action Registry will provide administrative and reporting infrastructure support. NESCAUM will also be part of starting up the new Registry, and it is likely that LADCO, WRAP and other associations of states will assist too.