Non-profit ACR, the first voluntary carbon offset program in the U.S. and now in its fifteenth year of operation, focuses on environmental integrity and transparency in standards and reporting. The organization develops science-based carbon offset standards and methodologies and provides an electronic registry system for members to record the purchase, sale, and retirement of project-based offsets.

ANSI is coordinator of the U.S. standards and conformity assessment system and administrator of an accreditation program for third-party bodies working to validate and verify GHG emission assertions for a broad spectrum of industries. Seventeen V/VBs have been accredited under the program to date.

Through the MoU, ACR and ANSI pledge to cooperate in the ANSI accreditation program for GHG V/VBs. This program evaluates conformance of V/VBs against ISO 14065, Greenhouse gases – Requirements for greenhouse gas validation and verification bodies for use in accreditation or other forms of recognition. Organizations seeking to provide validation and/or verification for ACR projects will be required to attain accreditation by ANSI. In addition, these organizations will be assessed against additional requirements as specified by ACR.

“ANSI is proud to partner with the American Carbon Registry on this important initiative,” said Lane Hallenbeck, vice president of accreditation services for ANSI. “The rapid growth of ANSI’s greenhouse gas accreditation program is evidence of the recognition by organizations nationwide of the importance of monitoring greenhouse gas emissions and the value that ANSI accreditation brings to the process.”

Contacts:

ANSI
Ann Bowles
202.331.3620
accreditation@ansi.org

American Carbon Registry
Mary Grady
805.884.1961
mgrady@winrock.org