Causes: Climate Change, Energy Resources Conservation & Development, Environment

Mission: To develop, promote and support innovative, credible market-based climate change solutions that benefit economies, ecosystems and society. The climate action reserve was approved by the california air resources board (arb) in 2012 to serve as an offset project registry in accordance with the regulations implementing the california cap-and-trade program. The reserve has had many of the offset projects in its system recognized by the arb for rewarding early actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and six reserve offset protocols have been adopted by arb for use in the compliance offset system under the cap-and-trade program.

Programs: The climate action reserve is an international carbon offsets program focused on ensuring environmental integrity of ghg emissions reductions projects to create and support financial and environmental value in the north american voluntary carbon market, the california cap-and-trade program, and international cap-and-trade programs. It does this by establishing high-quality standards for quantifying and verifying ghg emissions reductions projects, overseeing independent third party verification bodies, and issuing carbon credits generated from such projects and tracking the credits over time in a transparent, publicly-accessible system. These standards not only ensure the environmental integrity of using offsets, but they also bring credibility and efficiencies to the carbon market by creating a trusted and valued commodity.

the climate action reserve is also active in the development of climate change policy. As a non-partisan organization, the climate action reserve works to bring together thought leaders on climate change, including policymakers, businesses, academics and a variety of ngos to advocate for globally standardized greenhouse gas reporting and measurement standards. In 2017 the climate action reserve successfully hosted the 15th annual navigating the american carbon world conference in san francisco. Over 500 climate professionals gathered for information, discussion and networking to advance market-based solutions to climate change. The climate action reserve also hosted several panel discussions at cop22 in marrakech, morocco, that allowed the international climate community to gain a deeper understanding of the pioneering initiatives in california and other subnational and national governments. The climate action reserve also regularly hosts workshops, presentations and seminars on a variety of climate policy topics including carbon markets.

in fy2017 the reserve continued to engage in international initiatives, including the development of international emissions reduction standards, collaborating with partners and serving as an expert consultant for governments and others. In fy2017 the reserve continued to pilot forestry projects in rural mexico to test the mexico forest project protocol, including the development of its verification program and training verifiers. In fy2017 the reserve won a contract and initiated work for the ministry of environment and climate change to adapt protocols for canada.