The Climate Action Reserve is a U.S. private non-profit organization representing international interests in addressing climate change and bringing together participants from the government, environment and business sectors. It works to ensure environmental benefit, integrity and transparency in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions accounting and reduction and progressive movement in GHG emissions policy. The Climate Action Reserve is parent to three programs, the California Climate Action Registry, Climate Action Reserve and Center for Climate Action. As the subsequent organization of the California Climate Action Registry, the Climate Action Reserve continues building on the California Registry's reputation as a respected and internationally recognized leader in climate change issues.
The Gold Standard Foundation offers a quality label to CDM/JI and voluntary offset projects, fetching premium prices. Renewable energy and energy efficiency projects with sustainable development benefits are eligible. The Gold Standard is endorsed by over 55 non-governmental organizations worldwide. Gold Standard projects are preferred by a range of government and private actors. Initiated by WWF, SSN and Helio International the Gold Standard for CDM projects was launched in 2003 after a wide-ranging stakeholder consultation among key actors of the carbon market as well as governments. A methodology for voluntary offset projects was launched in May 2006.
The Voluntary Carbon Standard (VCS) was founded by The Climate Group, the International Emissions Trading Association and the World Economic Forum in late 2005, with the World Business Council for Sustainable Development joining as a founding partner in 2007. The objective behind the establishment of the VCS was to provide a robust and innovative global standard and program for the approval of credible voluntary offsets. VCS offsets (or Voluntary Carbon Units, VCUs) must be real (i.e., have happened), additional (i.e., beyond business-as-usual activities), measurable, permanent (i.e., not temporarily displace emissions), independently verified, and unique (i.e., exist within a robust custodial system that ensures transparency and prevents double counting). The VCS is managed by the VCS Association, a non-profit organization.
