All GHG emissions reduction programs, whether regulatory or voluntary, will have their own requirements which will need to be met in order to create emission reductions under those specific criteria. The tools provided here are intended to assist organizations in meeting the details of specific programs.

For the purposes of going carbon neutral or meeting your own carbon commitment, these tools will ensure that the project results in GHG emissions reductions that are consistent with internationally recognized standards and accepted by stakeholders, including the Manitoba government.

Large projects require a number of steps. A sequential methodology is provided here for organizations wishing to follow this approach. Of course project managers may wish to develop their own plans and use the elements of GreenRegistry.org in their own way.

Understanding VERRs

Verified Emissions Reductions and Removals, or VERRs, are tonnes of GHG emissions reductions that have been verified by an independent auditor. Anyone can claim to have reduced GHG emissions, but to add credibility to such claims they can be verified by a certified individual following standard practices. Organizations reporting GHG emissions reductions or buying GHG emissions reductions as offsets want to be sure that the reductions are real and reported accurately. Verification builds buyer and seller confidence.

Whether an organization is regulated to report GHG emissions to governments or is voluntarily reporting to stakeholders, any organization can take the steps required to verify their GHG emissions reductions. Organizations can use the Project Toolbox to plan their project and measure their results using standard methodologies. This can result in the production of a report that can be verified to the level of assurance required by the user.

Once a report has been verified, the results can be submitted to a GHG registry where the emissions reductions are posted and serialized. This ensures that the VERRs can be considered as unique- a requirement of many programs. The organization now owns VERRs that it can showcase as proof of its GHG management program, or even offer up for sale to another organization wishing to offset its own GHG emissions by acquiring another organization’s VERRs. In some cases organizations report VERRs that they want registered so that they are available to use against their own future GHG emission reduction requirements.

Organizations generating VERRs can use Manitoba’s Green Registry to report the results of a project and the tonnes of GHG emissions reduced. Follow the steps in the Project Toolbox to generate VERRs from your GHG emissions reduction project.

Steps for Large Projects:

1. Introduction: Learn about Verified Emissions Reductions and Removals and how they are generated.
2. Incentive Programs: Find programs providing expert guidance or financial support for your project.
3. GHG Measurement Standards: Find standards and learn which are useful to you.
4. GHG Quantification Protocols: Find existing GHG quantification protocols and how they are used.
5. Professional Services: Find organizations offering GHG project support services.
6. Registering Emissions and Reductions: Register emissions and emission reductions.
7. Showcasing Projects: Report your results and showcase your successes.
8. Discussion Forum: Share ideas and experiences with others.

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