Climate change adaptation and response is attracting increasing government and corporate participation in their attempt to react meaningfully to this human challenge. Standards are being set up internationally and nationwide and most are entering this space with integrity. But, with so many now playing on this global stage a need for clarity and best practice standards is crucial. Now a group of interested and concerned people and organisations in South Africa have realised this and have launched the Carbon Protocol of South Africa to provide security in the quality and standards of climate change response.
In 2006, national climate change action and greening social enterprise Food & Trees for Africa, developed the first South African carbon calculator with a multinational auditing firm. Based on the Greenhouse Gas Protocol and best practices in footprint assessment, this calculator has since been widely used by the private and public sector and recently was awarded a special commendation for innovation by the Mail & Guardian Investing in the Future Awards. The calculator and offset options were termed a project of the Carbon Standard and many companies and individuals have taken up the challenge to measure, reduce and offset.
As the initial interest grew and global and necessary action is realised, Food & Trees for Africa realised that it was necessary for the Carbon Standard to be more inclusive, set standards for best practice, that it required specific expertise and should be based on more rigorous science. As a result a partnership was formed with Global Carbon Exchange and Edward Nathan Sonnenbergs, and the Carbon Standard was transformed into the Carbon Protocol.
A non-profit collaboration, this now sets consistent and transparent standards to calculate, verify and publicly report greenhouse gas emissions into a single Registry. The Registry supports both voluntary and mandatory reporting programs and provides comprehensive, accurate data to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
“Our customers in South Africa are always asking us what standards we adhere to when assessing their carbon emissions and what logo they can use on their corporate marketing to show they are carbon neutral,” said Kevin James CEO of GCX. “Now we have a proudly South African logo that represents our country locally and internationally as a mark of international best practice.”
Carbon assessors can apply to become a member of the Carbon Protocol of South Africa whose principals are as follows: relevance, completeness, consistency, transparency, accuracy, objectivity and honesty. All assessors will need to comply with global best practice under the Green House Gas Protocol, ISO 14064 and PAS 2050 (for Product Life Cycle Assessment). This will allow assessors to become a member of the South African hub of carbon assessment, gain easy access to a unified, localized and up-to-date emissions factors database, have easy access to national industry benchmarks on emissions reporting. The Carbon Protocol aims to be an organization which is changing the way business in South Africa view the environment interdependencies.
Assessed companies have an opportunity to enhance brand equity through being part of South Africa’s first recognized national carbon standard. They can also be assured that they are working with registered assessors and find high quality carbon offset projects.
Carbon Project owners can apply to become members of the Carbon Protocol and are then enabled to use the Carbon Protocol of South Africa stamp. Only projects that fulfill the requirements as set out in the Carbon Protocol document are accepted and only companies that use the accredited offset options can claim carbon neutrality. Project Owners and developers can sign up to market their projects through the Carbon Protocol Registration process, assess buyers that are taking action and attract potential investors for their emission reduction and offset projects.
The Carbon Protocol has now formed an alliance with the SA Post Office and Primedia to launch the first South African Climate Change Leadership Awards for business and communities.
For more information see www.carbonprotocol.org.
