Carbon Footprint Verification
Our professional team provides reliable third-party verification services for the voluntary* reporting of greenhouse gas emissions. SCS professionals will guide your business through the process and assess whether your emissions inventory is complete, accurate and compliant to applicable reporting standards.
In verifying your business’s reported greenhouse gas emissions, we specialize in personalized attention with a fast turnaround and a high-level of service tailored to your needs. SCS provides unmatched professional expertise in independent verification services and extensive knowledge of greenhouse gases based on our experience in the natural resources and life-cycle assessment fields of service.
SCS is accredited to ISO 14065 for GHG Validation and Verification by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and offers verification under the following programs:
- The California Climate Action Registry (CCAR) is a private non-profit originally formed by the State of California. It serves as a voluntary greenhouse gas (GHG) registry to protect and promote early actions to reduce GHG emissions by organizations.
- The Climate Registry (TCR) is a nonprofit collaboration among North American states, provinces, territories and Native Sovereign Nations that sets consistent and transparent standards to calculate, verify and publicly report greenhouse gas emissions into a single registry.
Additionally we offer verification under Carbon Disclosure Project which is an independent not-for-profit organization holding the largest database of corporate climate change information in the world. Wal-Mart recently asked many of its suppliers to begin reporting to CDP.
Benefits of Verification
- Meet greenhouse gas reporting objectives for financial, environmental and social benefits
- Realize value from early actions to report greenhouse gas emissions
- Obtain reliable emissions inventory for risk management
- Increase shareholder value through environmental leadership efforts
- Gain a competitive advantage (e.g., prepare for governmental regulation of CO2 and other GHGs)
- Utilize measurement results to plan for increased operational efficiency
- Comply with retailer and other’s initiatives for emissions reporting and reduction.
Verification Process
- Application
Complete an application form. SCS staff will return a proposal to you for signature. To initiate the verification process, return a signed proposal and contract agreement. - Project Documentation Submission
The qualified SCS verification team reviews your submission for completeness and conduct a desk review of all documentation. - Site Visit
SCS conducts site visit(s) to assess compliance with applicable program standards. - Verification Report
SCS makes final verification decision and issues report. Applicant acknowledges report findings, including any requests for corrective action. - Verification Opinion
The final verification opinion is submitted to the applicable GHG program for registration.
Applications
Contact
SCS also offers Carbon Offset Verification
*The Mandatory Reporting of Greenhouse Gas Emissions
SCS is actively monitoring state and federal legislation that requires (or will require) companies and organizations to report and reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. In California, Assembly Bill 32 (AB 32) known as the Global Warming Solutions Act was passed in 2006 and requires the State’s greenhouse gas emissions to be reduced to 1990 levels by 2020. The reporting of GHG emissions is now mandatory for emissions year 2008 (to be reported in 2009) for certain large emitters such as refineries and cement plants. Third-party verification of reported emissions will be required for emissions year 2009 (to be reported in 2010). Third-party verification will be required regularly in subsequent years. For more information please visit the ARB website.
At the federal level, the Environmental Protection Agency has proposed a rule for the mandatory reporting of greenhouse gasses for large emitters. Moreover, a federal law is expected that would require the reporting and reduction of greenhouse gasses. Third-party verification of reported emissions or reductions is a prominent feature in the draft legislation currently circulating and can be expected to be included in any law that is passed.
SCS plans to participate as a third-party verifier at the state and federal level. Contact us for more information.
