Since January 1, 2010, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has required large emitters of heat-trapping emissions to collect greenhouse gas (GHG) data under a new reporting system. This new program covers approximately 85 percent of the nation’s GHG emissions and applies to roughly 10,000 facilities. Are you compliant?

As a leading U.S. expert on greenhouse gas management for ISO Technical Committee 207, Subcommittee 7, Futurepast’s John Shideler is uniquely qualified for verifying your organization’s standards compliance, preparing your reporting, and implementing integrated GHG management systems. In short: We count carbon.

February 8th, 2010, by John Shideler

Application of Principles Improves Greenhouse Gas Inventory and Project Accounting

International standards published in 2006 define principles for greenhouse gas (GHG) accounting. Five principles are provided in ISO 14064 Part 1, Greenhouse gases – Specification with guidance at the organization level for quantification and reporting of greenhouse gas emissions and removals:
• Relevance
Select the GHG sources, GHG sinks, GHG reservoirs, data and methodologies appropriate to the needs of the intended user.
• Completeness
Include all relevant GHG emissions and removals.
• Consistency
Enable meaningful comparisons in GHG-related information.
• Accuracy
Reduce bias and uncertainties as far as is practical.
• Transparency
Disclose sufficient and appropriate GHG-related information to allow intended users to make decisions with reasonable confidence.

These five characteristics of GHG accounting are principles, rather than requirements, because they are aspirational in nature. In some cases trade-offs are either explicitly stated or strongly implied. The first principle of relevance is explained by reference to a proces…

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January 31st, 2010, by John Shideler

The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on January 27, 2010, approved interpretive guidance on climate change reporting for publicly traded companies. The new guidance is intended to clarify the circumstances in which existing SEC regulations require companies to disclose climate change–related information that could have “material” financial impacts. The text of the guidance will be published soon in the Federal Register.

According to an SEC press release, the new interpretative guidance highlights the following areas where climate change may trigger disclosure:
• Impact of legislation and regulation
• Impact of international accords
• Indirect consequences of regulation or business trends
• Physical impacts of climate change.

Investors and environmental advocates in 2007 had urged the SEC to issue guidance on disclosure of climate-related impacts. Petitioners included pension funds, state treasurers, investor advocates and environmental groups, among others.

SEC chairman Mary Shapiro made clear in remarks at the hearing tha…

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