SCS Expands GHG Offset Verifications to Include Landfills, Livestock and Ozone Depleting Substances

Scientific Certification Systems (SCS), a leading verifier of forest carbon offsets, has expanded the scope of its carbon offset verification services in response to escalating demand created by the launch ofCalifornia's Cap and Trade program. The company is now accredited to verify landfill gas offsets under the Climate Action Reserve protocol and the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS), and is pursuing accreditation related to the verification of projects that destroy ozone depleting substances (ODS) and livestock methane.

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"We are committed to serving the burgeoning compliance offset market in California," said Dr. Robert J. Hrubes, Senior Vice President of SCS. "This expansion of scope will allow SCS to verify and validate projects immediately."

SCS recently verified the Berkeley County Landfill offset project in South Carolina and the Morehead Landfill project in Kentucky, both of which capture and destroy the powerful greenhouse gas methane. These projects will generate Climate Reserve Tonnes (CRTs), the official carbon credit used by the Climate Action Reserve, which represent metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions prevented from entering the atmosphere. SCS has verified all of the currently registered forest carbon offset projects under the Climate Action Reserve Protocol and is a leading verifier of voluntary offsets under the Verified Carbon Standard and American Carbon Registry.

Upon completing the accreditation process for livestock projects and ozone depleting substances, SCS will offer verification for the the California Air Resources Board's Compliance Offset Program. Livestock offsets involve the capture of methane emitted from the breakdown of manure, while offsets related to ODS involve disposal of refrigerants, which are among the most powerful greenhouse gases.

SCS program staffing is undergoing expansion to meet the increased demand for carbon offset verification services, in the US and around the world.

Scientific Certification Systems (SCS) has been a global leader in third-party environmental and sustainability certification, auditing, testing and standards development for more than 25 years. SCS programs span a wide cross-section of sectors, recognizing exemplary performance in natural resource management, green building, product manufacturing, food and agriculture, retailing and more. SCS is a Certified B Corporation(TM), reflecting its commitment to socially and environmentally responsible business practices.

SCS is currently accredited to ISO 14065 for GHG Validation and Verification by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and offers verification under the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) and the Climate Action Reserve (CAR). SCS also offers validation and verification services for the Climate, Community and Biodiversity (CCB) standards. To date, SCS has verified over 42,000 acres of forest under the Climate Action Reserve Forest Project Protocols.