Government Services

Government Services

The Climate Registry serves as a resource on state, regional and federal climate policies and initiatives. As a nonprofit organization governed by U.S. and Mexican states, Canadian provinces and territories and Native Sovereign Nations, The Registry maintains a close working relationship with these jurisdictions and provides them with up-to-date information on a wide range of climate-related issues and programs. The Registry's expert staff provides the following services:

• Education and outreach to state and federal government leaders on the role of The Registry
• Analysis of climate legislation in the U.S. Congress
• Monitoring climate policies and programs administered by U.S. EPA
• Comprehensive knowledge of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) in the northeast, the Western Climate Initiative (WCI) and the Midwest Governors Accord
• Understanding of state-level climate action plans
• Information and technical assistance on state mandatory greenhouse gas (GHG) reporting programs
• Technical advice on GHG accounting standards and protocols

At the local government level, The Registry works closely with ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability, USA on protocols to calculate and report emissions from local government operations. On the international front, The Climate Registry is an official observer of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). At its January 2009 meeting, The Climate Registry's Board of Directors unanimously adopted a policy regarding federal reporting programs in North America. The board strongly endorses that any federal greenhouse gas (GHG) reporting and regulatory programs in North America should partner with The Climate Registry as a cost effective central repository or clearinghouse for reporting and/or tracking GHG data. At a minimum, every federal GHG reporting program must:

1. utilize GHG calculation and accounting methodologies that are consistent with The Climate Registry's standards
2. allow states, provinces, territories and Native Sovereign Nations to collect data for federal program requirements
3. maintain state, provincial and Native Sovereign Nations' abilities to require reporting to their respective jurisdictions or directly to The Registry, for emissions reporting that is above or beyond, but not inconsistent with, federal requirements

Additionally, the Board of Directors agreed to encourage EPA, Environment Canada and Semarnat to work in partnership with each other, states, provinces and Native Sovereign Nations on GHG reporting as well as on broader climate policies and programs. To read the full policy, please click here.