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Vol. 2, No. 17: October 10, 2007
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The Ecosystem Marketplace's V-Carbon News
Carbon beyond Kyoto... Carbon for the Rest of us
Ripping open a bag of chips, guzzling a bottle of water, or washing their hair, more and more consumers in Europe and the United States will be spotting eco-labels relating to a product's impact on the climate. This month Sun Chips announced that its products will display the Green- E seal, to highlight the company's purchase of renewable energy certificates (RECs). In the United Kingdom, several companies, including Walkers Crisps and Boots, recently partnered with the Carbon Trust to roll out a label created for companies "to communicate the embodied emissions of their products and commitment to reduce products' emissions." Last week nine more companies, including Coca Cola and Cadbury, signed up to test Carbon Trust's Carbon Foot Printing Standard, a scheme designed to measure and label a product's embodied emissions. At the same time, numerous companies are announcing plans to utilize carbon neutral certification created by different offset retailers. For example, in September, Icelandic Glacial announced they had gone carbon neutral using a Carbon Neutral Company certification program. Several companies have also worked with the retailer CarbonFund.org to earn "CarbonFree" certification. As further indication that this wave is growing, in mid September stakeholders had the opportunity to attend the two- day Carbon Footprint Consumer Products conference in Chicago and dig into the details of measuring, reducing and offsetting corporate carbon footprints.
Is this small- scale labeling trend just the beginning of a major tool that links consumers with progressive corporate greenhouse gas management strategies? Or will consumers eyes glaze over at the idea of a CarbonFree, Green-e, fair trade, organic, shade grown, non-fat latte? Since few climate relevant labels are currently being widely used, it is still too early to tell. However, it is likely the range of climate relevant labeling schemes will face the same challenges as current voluntary offset certification programs. As more organizations rush to help companies reduce their footprint, purchase offsets, and communicate this via a label to customers, there will be more and more confusion about what these labels really mean. Stick with us to find out if these sorts of labeling schemes will fundamentally alter the way we do business, or whether they will become yet another source of static on already cluttered airwaves.
—The Editors
For comments or questions, please email: vcarbonnews@ecosystemmarketplace.com
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VOLUNTARY CARBON
Cooler Consumerism
Now consumers making purchases online can help offset emissions resulting from shipping— without paying an extra charge. Cooler, a provider of commerce solutions that address global warming, today announced the launch of ClimateCooler.com, a Web site that has links with 400 major online stores, including Ebay. When a consumer starts their online shopping at ClimateCooler.com and completes the purchase at a participating store, the global warming impact of each purchase is calculated and he store then pays Cooler a portion of the purchase price, which is then invested in offset projects. Customers can track their impact by viewing the pounds of global warming pollution eliminated by online shopping at Cooler.
– View Cooler Press Release
Sun Chips Go Green- E
SunChips, Frito-Lay's popular brand of multigrain snacks, recently announced the inclusion of the "Green-e" designation across the full line of SunChips snacks. The updated packaging will feature the Green-e logo, a designation from the Center for Resource Solutions used to communicate the company's purchase of renewable energy certificates (RECs) to match the electricity needed to produce SunChips snacks in the U.S. Frito-Lay North America is the $10 billion convenient foods division of PepsiCo. The RECs that SunChips brand purchased are part of the PepsiCo REC purchase, announced earlier this year.
– View E Magazine.com Article
– View Frito Lay Press Release
Cadbury Coming Clean on More than Calories
Nine companies including, Cadbury Schweppes and Coca-Cola have become the second wave of firms to sign up to use a carbon foot printing standard designed by UK's Department for Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and BSI British Standards. The companies will use the standard to calculate the embodied carbon emissions of selected products. Boots, Walkers and fruit drinks company Innocent were the first companies to trial the draft standard and already display their carbon footprint on a number of their products' packaging.
– View Climate Biz Article
Saanich, Canada to Set Up Carbon-Neutral Reserve Fund
On September 17, the city council of Saanich, in British Columbia approved a plan for the city to go carbon neutral. The plan calls for a 10% reduction by 2010 by implementing building, fleet and other operational efficiencies. It also establishes a municipal carbon-neutral reserve fund in 2008 to offset its annual greenhouse gas emissions from all municipal operations, including recreation operations to garbage pickup and road maintenance.
– View the Times Colonist Article
– View the Saanich Press Release (pdf)
3C and Factor Merge
Last week 3C and Factor announced they will merge to form Factor3C AG, a carbon asset management enterprise in Continental Europe with subsidiaries in Brazil, Chile, China and the US. Factor's business is based in carbon credit generation, carbon finance, and as a service provider for carbon risk management solutions. 3C originates and procures carbon credits from CDM and JI projects around the world.
– View the News Wire Today Article
Cantor CO2 Adds VERs to Website
Cantor CO2's www.emissionstrading.com, which provides Cantor CO2 clients with information about multiple domestic and international projects, will now include credits generated for the voluntary carbon markets. According to Cantor CO2, "Many of the emission reductions available through CantorCO2e are derived from pre-registered Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) projects and are verified, or are verifiable, to the Voluntary Carbon Standard, as well as other international and US standards. These tons are being used by corporations seeking to lighten their carbon footprint. Some are looking to build a carbon portfolio in anticipation of the Northeast's Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) or California's Global Warming Solutions Act (AB 32)."
– View the Cantor CO2 Press Release
CCX Auctions CERs
For the first time the Chicago Climate Exchange auctioned Clean Development Mechanism Certified Emissions Reductions (CERs). The CERs were issued to a wind energy farm in Satara and Supa in Western India that is managed by Tata Motors. The auction was oversubscribed, with total bid quantities equal to 13.3 times the offered quantity. The auction clearing price was $22.11 per CER. "We are extremely pleased with the CCFE CER auction results. The auction exceeded our expectations relative to the number of bidders, bids and prices." said Dr. Richard L. Sandor, Chairman and CEO, CCX. "We will continue to welcome sellers of Certified Emissions Reductions from India, China, and South America to participate in future auctions."
– View the Chicago Climate Exchange Press Release (pdf)
Carbon Tracker Network Launched
Three carbon offset suppliers, Sustainable Travel International, Co2balance, and Offsetters Climate Neutral Society have linked with Carbon Tracker.com to create "a voluntary, cooperative effort to promote the goals of quality, reliability and transparency in the voluntary carbon offset market."
– View the E Wire Article
REDUCE & RETIRE: THE LATEST ON CARBON NEUTRAL
Exploring Carbon Offsets at the Chicago Field Museum
Museum visitors to the Chicago Field Museum can now donate a suggested $1.00 to help fund projects that offset average greenhouse gas emissions resulting from a trip to the museum. The Field Museum will buy the credits through the Chicago Climate Exchange and a small part of the donations will go toward the Field Museum's own conservation projects, which include protecting forests and restoring habitats. "As a public institution, we have a chance to really get people to think more about carbon emissions and global warming," said Debra Moskovits, the museum's senior vice president of environment, culture and conservation. "This was a way to have people not only think about it ... but also actually be part of the solution in offsetting their travel to the museum."
– View the Chicago Tribune Article
Aussies Jet to Purchase Offsets
On September 19th, Qantas Airways Ltd airline offset the emissions of all its flights. In addition the airline and its popular budget carrier Jetstar have launched a program allowing passengers to offset the carbon dioxide emissions their flights cause. In the program's first week, Jetstar announced that 10% of customers using the website chose to purchase offsets with their ticket. Jetstar spokesman Simon Westaway, noted "It's difficult for us to ascertain if its industry leading but clearly it's one of the more successful launches of a carbon offset program."
– View the USA Today Article
– View the Australian Article
Not Just Catholic Guilt...Anglican Parishes aiming at Carbon Neutral in Australia
The Bendigo diocese in central Victoria, Australia has voted to reduce its net carbon emissions to zero by 2012. Its Bishop, Andrew Curnow, says the church has a moral responsibility to reduce its impact on the environment. "It's not only sort of looking at our stewardship of property, but it's also looking at the theological principle," he said ."We believe that God created humanity and the earth that we have, and we therefore want to be accountable and look after it." This summer the Vatican announced it would become the world's first carbon-neutral state.
– View the ABC Article
Dell "Plants A Tree for Me"
Chairman and CEO Michael Dell announced at the end of September that Dell Inc. will neutralize its carbon emissions and become carbon neutral by the end of 2008. Dell is the first major computer manufacturer to announce its intention to balance its carbon emissions with activities that reduce carbon in the atmosphere. The company will focus on producing more energy efficient projects, push its major suppliers to report and reduce their carbon emissions by focusing on a new "performance per watt" metric, and expanding their offset program.
– View the Washington Post Article
– View the Houston Chronicle Article
Clean Air Pass Partners With Car Dealers
Two Canadian Chrysler car dealers have partnered with the Toronto-based offset supplier Cleanairpass Inc. to make every vehicle retailed from each dealership carbon neutral. Although not the first in North America, this will be the first initiative of this scope in Canada. One dealer noted, "We also hope that this program will stimulate a dialogue with our customers and in our communities about the action we can all take to reduce our personal impact on the environment."
– View the Windsor Star Article
Volvo Offset's Belgian Production Plant's Emissions
Volvo Trucks has opened a "CO2 Free" plant in Ghent, Belgium. The plant has invested in building three wind power plants, a biomass plant, and purchasing certified renewable energy. "Our ambition is to make all our plants CO2-free plants and Ghent is the first," says Volvo CEO Leif Johansson. "It is not an easy undertaking, but we are prepared to try different alternatives to achieve our goal for CO2-free production in our plants."
– View the Industry Week Article
CLIMATE NORTH AMERICA
Obama Calls for Cap & Trade
Yesterday, Senator Barack Obama presented a plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. In a New Hampshire speech, the U.S. presidential candidate called for called for a cap and trade system with 100% of the carbon credits auctioned, investing $150 billion over 10 years to develop new energy sources and reducing dependence on foreign oil by 35 percent by 2030. According to Obama his plan would, "Make the U.S. a leader in the global effort to combat climate change by leading a
new international global warming partnership."
– View The New York Times article
– Obama 08' Campaign Fact Sheet (pdf)
US Congress Continue to Warm Up to Climate Legislation
Last week, Democrats on the House Energy and Commerce Committee issued a white paper outlining a cap-and-trade system that would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 60 to 80 percent below current levels. The Senate Committee on the Environment and Public Works plans to move a bipartisan bill through committee in December, at the same time as the United Nations Climate Change Conference "COP 13" in Bali.
– View the Washington Post Article
Virginia Dips it's Toe into Emission Reduction Goals
The state of Virginia has tentatively stepped up to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions. In his new energy plan, Governor Timothy Kaine called on the state to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to 2000 levels by 2050, which is a 30% reduction.
– View the Washington Post Editorial
Western Climate Initiative Gets Northern Exposure
In mid September Alaska's Governor, Sarah Palin, officially signed off on a new Climate Change Sub-cabinet. The Climate Change Sub-cabinet will "consolidate the state's knowledge about the expected effects of global warming in Alaska, recommend measures and policies to prepare our communities and residents to respond to expected effects, and guide the state's participation in local, regional and national efforts to curb and to respond to global warming." The Governor is also signing on Alaska as an observer to the Western Climate Initiative.
– View the Juneau Empire Article
– View the State of Alaska Press Release
Investors Push SEC on Climate Risk Disclosure
A group of institutional investors, state officials and environmental groups called on the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Tuesday to force publicly-traded companies to disclose climate-related risks along with other factors that affect their business. "This is about an investor's right to know. Existing SEC rules, we believe, clearly require companies to disclose the risks and benefits to their operations presented by climate change," said a spokesman for Bill Lockyer, California's state treasurer who sits on the board of Calpers, the California Public Employees' Retirement Fund.
– View the Wall Street Journal Article
– View the Washington Post Article
A TOUCH OF KYOTO
Netherlands Launches Climate Packaging Tax
The Netherlands has passed a first-of-its-kind carbon-based tax on packaging. The European Organization for Packaging and the Environment will calculate the tax based on the CO2 emissions from the production of each kilogram of packaging material put into the Netherlands market and the embedded carbon content of the packaging. Some stakeholders see this as the start of an EU-wide move to force companies to add CO2 emissions as purchasing criteria when choosing packaging.
– Sustainable Is Good Blog
Serbia Ratified the Kyoto Protocol
Serbia is eligible to host project under the Clean Development Mechanism now that it has become latest country to have ratified the Kyoto Protocol. Signing on the Protocol may also benefit the country in its bid to join the European Union.
– View B92 News Article
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