General Reporting Protocol
The General Reporting Protocol (GRP) outlines the policies of The Climate Registry and required reporting calculation methodologies for the majority of greenhouse gas (GHG) sources.
- General Reporting Protocol v. 1.1, May 2008
- GRP Updates and Clarifications – Released July 15, 2011
- GRP Archive
New: Draft GRP 2.0 Public Comment Period Now Open
The draft General Reporting Protocol 2.0 is now available for public comment. This is the first time The Registry has comprehensively updated the GRP. With this draft, The Registry hopes to provide greater value and flexibility to our Members while maintaining the credibility and integrity of our program. This draft incorporates all previous updates and clarifications as well as updates to The Registry’s voluntary reporting program.
The Registry will hold a free webinar on the proposed changes on February 8 at 11:00 am PST. Click here to register. On the call, Registry staff will give an overview presentation of the proposed changes, answer questions from the public and collect informal public comment.
The Registry is accepting public comments on the draft GRP 2.0 to peggy@theclimateregistry.org no later than close of business February 17, 2012. Please submit your comments on The Registry’s Public Comment Template.
Draft GRP 2.0 Materials:
- Draft General Reporting Protocol 2.0
- Overview of Changes from GRP 1.1
- Public Comment Template
- Public Comment Webinar
Default Emission Factor Updates
Default emission factors sometimes change over time as the components of energy (electricity, fuel, etc.) change and as emission factor quantification methods are refined. The Registry updates emission factors on an annual basis in January to reflect the most up-to-date knowledge. The 2012 emission factors are part of the CRIS calculation tool and must be used to calculate 2011 emissions. Members who choose to report emissions data from previous years can use the most up to date emission factors in the CRIS calculation tool at the time they report.
- NEW: 2012 Climate Registry Default Emission Factors – Released January 6, 2012
- Archived versions of the emission factors
Utility-Specific Emission Factors
Registry Members Reporting to the Electric Power Sector (EPS) Protocol have the option to develop utility-specific retail electric or special power electric delivery metrics that their customers can use when quantifying scope 2 emissions. Registry Members who are customers of these utilities can use the relevant emission factors below when reporting scope 2 emissions to The Climate Registry:
| 2009 Emission Rates | ||
|---|---|---|
| Utility | Factor Type | Emission Factor (lbs CO2/MWh) |
| Modesto Irrigation District | Retail Power | 1,036.17 |
| Special Power | 0.0 | |
| Wholesale Power | 2,048.09 | |
| Pacific Gas & Electric | System Average | 575.38 |
| 2010 Emission Rates | ||
| Sacramento Municipal Utility District | Retail Power | 526.47 |
| Special Power | 0.0 | |
| Wholesale Power | 828.58 | |
| Newmont Nevada Energy Investment | Wholesale Power | 2055.79 |
| Pacific Gas & Electric | System Average | 444.64 |
| NOTE: Utility-specific emission factors have been converted from tonnes/MWh to lbs/MWh in order to streamline reporting in CRIS. | ||
Performance Metrics for Transit Agencies
The following metrics for transit agencies can be used when quantifying the carbon efficiency of transit agency operations:
- Metric 1: Emissions per passenger mile travelled
- Metric 2: Emissions per vehicle mile
- Metric 3: Emissions per revenue vehicle hour
- Performance Metrics for Transit Agencies v. 1.0
- NEW: Transit Agency Performance Metric Report v. 1.1
The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) and Canadian Urban Transit Association (CUTA) were integral to the development of these metrics and their expertise ensured that the metrics reflect the best knowledge of the transit industry.
Member Developed Methodologies
In rare instances, Members find it necessary to develop a unique methodology to complete their greenhouse gas inventory. The Climate Registry has developed a process to approve these member developed methodologies. Complete information and the necessary forms for this process can be found below. We encourage Members to complete this process prior to entering the verification stage.
Please note that Members can only propose methodologies under three circumstances: 1) the methodology is for an emissions source not covered under The Registry’s guidance, 2) a member is unable to use any of the Registry-provided methodologies for a certain source or 3) a member is able to develop a methodology that is more accurate than The Registry’s methodology for that source. To be approved, the methodology must be at least as accurate as one of The Registry’s methodologies
Confidential Business Information
Members that have confidential business information can be exempted from The Registry’s requirement to release facility-level information to the public. To obtain this exemption, Members must submit the Public Disclosure Exemption Request Form to help@theclimateregistry.org.
DEVELOPMENT OF THE GRP
The GRP was developed through a public stakeholder process. The Registry received over 1,140 individual comments on the draft GRP from 107 respondents representing industry, environmental non-governmental organizations, regulatory agencies, individuals and consultants.
