GHG Inventory Verification and
Carbon Offset Verification Projects
GHG Inventory Verification
Scientific Certification Systems (SCS) has conducted greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory verification (also called “carbon footprint verification”) for clients in the manufacturing, non-profit, corporate, and municipal sectors.
Longview Fibre Paper & Packaging, Inc.
SCS conducted an assessment of Longview Fibre’s greenhouse gas emissions for calendar year 2008 for all facilities located in Washington State. The verification was conducted under the auspices of The Climate Registry, a leading greenhouse gas reporting program for North America. The SCS audit consisted of an assessment of Longview’s main pulp and paper mill along with their mobile fleet. SCS verified Longview Fibre’s GHG inventory as being accurate and complete.
The City of Arcata
SCS verified the City of Arcata’s 2007 GHG footprint, helping the city meet its sustainability goals. The City of Arcata is a town in Northern California with a population of 17,294 and is home to Humboldt State University. The audit by SCS included an assessment of records at City Hall and site visits to the wastewater facility, the corporation yard, and other city facilities. The City of Arcata had its emissions inventory verified and was recognized as a Climate Action Leader by the California Climate Action Registry (CCAR).
The Nature Conservancy
SCS verified The Nature Conservancy (TNC) of California’s 2007 and 2008 GHG footprint. SCS verified TNC’s footprint for all operations within California, including 20 offices and projects. Sites audited by SCS include a large farming operation in the Sacramento River Delta, a conservation project on Santa Cruz Island, the Sacramento River Mega-site project, and various TNC offices. TNC California achieved Climate Action Leader status from the California Climate Action Registry (CCAR). TNC is a conservation organization working around the world to protect ecologically important lands and waters for nature and people.
Carbon Offset Verification and Validation
SCS provides verification of project-based emissions reductions, project design validation and pre-assessment analysis. SCS is accredited to ISO 14065 for GHG validation and verification by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). Under this accreditation, SCS offers Voluntary Carbon Standard (VCS) and Climate Action Reserve (CAR) offset verification services. SCS also offers offset verification services under the Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX) and the Climate, Community and Biodiversity (CCB) standards.
Wildlife Works Carbon LLC - Kasigau Corridor REDD Project
SCS conducted an assessment of one of Africa’s first Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD) projects evaluating the project for its climate, community and biodiversity benefits. The project consists of a 74,000 acre nature sanctuary that serves as an important wildlife corridor between Kenya’s Tsavo East and Tsavo West National Parks.
Project activities include preservation of the dryland forest along with various community development initiatives. The sanctuary includes an organic clothing factory called Ecofactory, which employs young women from the community who sew organic cotton clothing. An organic greenhouse is located in the sanctuary, as well, and is used to grow citrus trees sold at a discount to local farmers, who plant the trees and earn an income from them. The sanctuary also includes an ecotourism camp, where safari guides and other service jobs provide employment for locals. SCS was able to validate the project at the Gold Level under the CCB standards. Wildlife Works has also hired SCS to conduct validation and verification of the project under the VCS standards.
The Pacific Forest Trust - van Eck Improved Forest Management Project
In 2007, the van Eck Improved Forest Management project was the first carbon offset project to be verified under the California Climate Action Registry (CCAR) protocols. Since that time, CCAR protocol has been adopted by the Climate Action Reserve (CAR) and SCS has been the verifier for all subsequent CCAR and CAR forest carbon offset projects. The van Eck forest project consists of a 2100 acre redwood forest in Humboldt County managed by the Pacific Forest Trust. The van Eck Forest Project will reduce more than 500,000 tons of CO2 emissions over a 100-year period by implementing sustainable forestry practices that increase carbon sequestration. SCS has conducted annual verifications of the forest since 2007.
Greenoxx - COFUSA URAFOR Sustainable Forests Project
SCS conducted an assessment of the COFUSA - URUFOR Sustainable Forests Project in Uruguay for emissions years 2003 to 2008. The verification was conducted under the auspices of the Chicago Climate Exchange, an integrated greenhouse gas reduction and trading system for global carbon offset projects. The SCS audit consisted of a site visit to the COFUSA - URUFOR Sustainable Forests as well as document review. The COFUSA - URUFOR Sustainable Forests Project was deemed to be in conformance with the requirements of the Chicago Climate Exchange.
The Conservation Fund - Marais des Cygnes National Wildlife Refuge Restoration Initiative
SCS conducted an assessment of The Conservation Fund’s (TCF) carbon offset project to restore bottomland hardwood forests in the Mississippi Valley. The restored forests were then donated by TCF to the Marias des Cygnes National Wildlife Refuge in Eastern Kansas. The offsets generated by the project are funded by TCF’s Go Zero Program in which corporations and individuals make donations to implement offset projects. The SCS assessment found that the Marias des Cygnes project was in conformance with the CCB standards at the Gold Level.
