Services
Sustainability ServicesAccreditations, Approvals, and Partnerships
Accreditations, Approvals, and Partnerships
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
Accreditation as an Applicant Entity/Designated Operational Entity
CRA is accredited and designated as an Applicant Entity (AE) eligible to provide Designated Operational Entity (DOE) related services under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). As an AE, CRA can carry out activities witnessed by the Clean Development Mechanisms assessment team (CDM-AT) related to the following two functions:
- Validation and subsequent requests for registration of a proposed CDM project activity.
- Verification of emission reductions of a registered CDM project activity, certification as appropriate, and requests to the Executive Board of the CDM to issue Certified Emission Reductions.
As an AE, CRA can conduct validation and verification activities within several sectoral scopes that include Waste Handling and Disposal (specifically landfill and agricultural methane emissions), Energy Industries (renewable and non-renewable sources), Manufacturing Industries, Chemical Industries, Fugitive Emissions from Fuels (solid, oil and gas), and Solvents Use.
In its role as an AE, CRA can assess greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction projects from a technical and regulatory standpoint to confirm that emissions reductions are achievable, and produce validation reports for submission to the UNFCCC as part of project registration. As a component of project verification, CRA will confirm that actual emissions reductions have (or have not) been achieved by verified projects, and will issue verification reports to the UNFCCC to this effect.
State of California - Air Resources Board - Verification Body Accreditation
CRA is accredited by the State of California's Air Resources Board as an approved verification body for the mandatory Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Reporting Program.
Under the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, certain entities are required to monitor and report their GHG emissions. GHG reports must be verified by an Air Resources Board (ARB) accredited third party verification body. Verification is optional for all sources for 2009 reporting, and required for all sources in 2010.
CRA verifiers bring global experience in various sectors to deliver cost-effective and responsive verifications that meet the ARB's requirements. In addition to utilizing experienced verifiers, CRA's verification team includes technical experts from a variety of sectors to ensure that the technical details of any verification are fully understood and addressed.
Chicago Climate Exchange - Approved Offset Project Verifier
CRA is an approved Offset Project Verifier for landfill methane capture and combustion projects with the Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX). CRA provides independent third-party verification of a project's actual, annual greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction, sequestration, or destruction. Currently, CRA is working toward a similar accreditation with CCX in the area of agricultural methane collection and combustion at livestock operations.
Natural Resources Canada
CRA is an approved prequalified contractor with Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) to perform work under the Technology Early Action Measures (TEAM) technology areas of Community Energy Systems, and Waste and Landfills. As a pre-qualified contractor, CRA is responsible for developing the technical and GHG measurements and reporting activities and documentation of TEAM projects using the SMART (System of Measurement and Reporting for Technologies/System of Monitoring and Reporting for Technologies) protocol or other protocol and standards approved by TEAM.
Sustainable Development Technology Canada
CRA is an approved Environmental Impact Quantification Expert with Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC). As an Environmental Impact Qualification Expert on the SDTC Roster of Experts, CRA works with project proponents approved for SDTC funding to provide independent third-party review and validation of the environmental benefits quantification and reporting, or SMART (System of Monitoring and Reporting for Technologies) reports, associated with the development of new and emerging technologies.
Independent from the above third-party review services with SDTC, CRA works with prospective project proponents to prepare Statements of Interest and detailed proposals, as well as SMART reports, as part of the funding application process to SDTC. In the preparation of SMART reports, CRA conducts life-cycle assessments, including the assessment of GHG emissions and impacts to soil, water, and air. These assessments include the formulation of primary and alternative baseline scenarios according to rigorous emission reduction reporting templates. In circumstances where CRA conducts activities for prospective project proponents seeking funding from SDTC, CRA will not serve as an independent third party Environmental Impact Quantification Expert for such projects, if SDTC project funding is approved.
U.S. EPA Climate Leaders
CRA is a partner in the U.S. EPA's Climate Leaders program, with more than 150 partner companies, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. CRA embarked on this initiative as part of its Corporate Sustainability, Social Responsibility, and Environmental Policy. We are now undertaking efforts to calculate our corporate carbon footprint, set goals for reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, and conduct energy audits to identify key areas of energy consumption. CRA also assists clients in completing similar assessments and meeting their emission reduction commitments.
U.S. Green Building Council & Canada Green Building Council
CRA is a national member of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), a non-profit community of 15,000 member organizations dedicated to expanding sustainable building practices. CRA is also a member of the Canada Green Building Council (CaGBC), an affiliate of the USGBC.
The USGBC and the CaGBC are committed to transforming the way buildings and communities are designed, built, and operated, enabling an environmentally and socially responsible, healthy, and prosperous environment that improves the quality of life where we live, work, and play.
The USGBC oversees the LEED® Green Building Rating System™. LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is a voluntary, consensus-based national rating system for developing high-performance, sustainable buildings. Developed by USGBC, LEED addresses all building types and emphasizes state-of-the-art strategies for sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials and resources selection, and indoor environmental quality. LEED is a practical rating tool for green building design and construction that provides immediate and measurable results for building owners and occupants. The CaGBC has exclusive rights for the implementation of the LEED rating system in Canada.
CRA's involvement in the USGBC and the CaGBC strengthens our ability to incorporate sustainable design practices into our offices, buildings, work products, remediation systems, and personal lives.
Learn more about the USGBC and LEED® at www.usgbc.org and the CaGBC at www.cagbc.ca.
"USGBC" and related logo is a trademark owned by the U.S. Green Building Council and is used by permission.
"CaGBC" and related logo is a trademark owned by the Canada Green Building Council and is used by permission.
