Sep 8 2009
Complete Integrated Certification Services Ltd (CICS), a global leader in CO2/GHG verification, has significantly grown its North American business operations by winning a number of major contracts for the verification of greenhouse gases (GHGs) including a contract with one of the world’s largest retailers. This partnership builds on CICS’ growing involvement with US companies covering all areas of industry including aviation and power generation. Already well established as an expert in GHG verification in the UK, and accredited to verify in the US under ANSI, CICS has recently seen an increase in interest from the US where many State-led initiatives are in play and levels of corporate environmental responsibility are growing.
The new contract will see CICS provide independent GHG emissions verification according to the GHG Protocol Initiative, an internationally recognized initiative from the World Resources Institute and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development. The emissions reports will be submitted to the Carbon Disclosure Project and to The Climate Registry, a voluntary reporting scheme covering North America.
With the UK’s Carbon Reduction Commitment, a mandatory scheme for all large UK businesses and public sector organisations, scheduled to start in April 2010, and the EU ETS scheme in place since 2005, emissions verification is becoming an essential part of running a large business. There is a growing trend globally for voluntary participation in emissions reporting schemes, especially in North America. Involvement in emissions reduction initiatives can enable significant cost savings for companies as well as fulfilling corporate sustainability commitments. For large companies the smallest of changes to streamline a process can result in multi-million dollar savings.
“In order to demonstrate compliance with both voluntary and mandatory emissions reduction schemes it is essential to obtain verification of emissions data in line with the internationally recognized standards,” explained Tony Kinsella, Managing Director of CICS. “These schemes will not work if emissions data are not comparable across all participating partners, and so it is essential that companies engage independent verifiers that are accredited according to the relevant standards authorities, and whose fidelity is beyond reproach.”
In addition to the retail sector, there is a clear focus on large emissions producers such as the power generation and aviation industries to reduce their GHG emissions. Indeed, in 2012 aviation will be included in the EU ETS with all eligible aircraft operating companies having to measure and report their CO2 emissions and have them independently verified by an accredited third party. “With the likely introduction of mandatory reporting regulations coming into force in the US over the next 5 years, companies that take the initiative and begin emissions verification exercises now will find themselves with a clear advantage down the line,” said Kinsella.
Posted on September 8th, 2009