Basic Information
References
- Program Brochure (PDF) (4 pp, 1.1M, About PDF).
- Partnership Directory (PDF) (2 pp, 398K, About PDF).
- EPA’s Climate Change Web site.
- Join related EPA voluntary programs.
- Guidance in setting a GHG reduction goal.
Partner Quote
“While some assume that cutting carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions cost businesses money, we have found just the opposite. Addressing climate change makes business sense. We have saved more than $100 million since 1998 by conserving energy.”
—Wayne Balta, Vice President, Corporate Environmental Affairs and Product Safety, IBM
Climate Leaders is an EPA industry-government partnership that provides guidance and recognition to companies developing long-term climate change strategies.
Partner companies commit to reducing their impact on the global environment by completing a corporate-wide inventory of their greenhouse (GHG) gas emissions, setting long-term reduction goals, and annually reporting their progress to EPA. Through program participation, companies create a lasting record of their accomplishments and identify themselves as corporate environmental leaders.
Climate Leaders Partners represent a broad range of industry sectors including cement, forest products, pharmaceuticals, utilities, information technology, and retail, with operations in all 50 states. Partners range from Fortune 100 corporations to small businesses, and organizations in all sectors are welcome to join the program. For a complete list of Climate Leaders, visit Partners.
EPA has developed resources including the Climate Leaders Inventory Guidance, which is based on an existing corporate GHG inventorying protocol developed by the World Resources Institute (WRI) and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD). Accompanying EPA resources include:
- Inventory Guidance on collecting corporate-wide GHG data.
- Inventory Management Plan (PDF) (4 pp, 210K, About PDF) to establish GHG collection and calculation processes.
- Annual GHG Inventory Summary and Goal Tracking Form (MS Excel, 1 p, 352K) to report emissions to
- Free Technical Assistance in developing a corporate base year inventory and Inventory Management Plan.
- National Public Recognition to promote Partner achievements.
Many small and medium-sized organizations, and larger service-sector businesses, also wish to measure and reduce their GHG emissions to reduce energy costs, meet consumer demand, and protect the environment. EPA provides specific guidance and resources tailored for these small businesses and low emitters.
EPA launched Climate Leaders as a voluntary industry-government partnership in February 2002 with 35 Charter Partners.
The Climate Leaders program coordinates with a suite of EPA voluntary industry-government partnerships for reducing GHG emissions, including ENERGY STAR®, the Green Power Partnership, the Combined Heat and Power Partnership, Smartway Transport Partnership, the Landfill Methane Outreach Program, and Clean Energy, to assist corporations with their greenhouse gas emissions management strategies.