The Climate Action Reserve invites you to attend a free workshop introducing the Reserve program, exploring its role as an Offset Project Registry (OPR) for California’s Cap-and-Trade Program, and offering a window into the process for the issuance of offset credits eligible to be converted to ARB Offset Credits. Additionally, the workshop will feature a presentation by an offsets broker who will discuss the market for California Compliance Offsets from the perspective of both project developers looking to bring their credits into California’s market and covered entities looking to use offsets in an effort to minimize their costs of compliance. The workshop will be useful for covered entities in California as well as for consultants, academics, project developers, policymakers, and anyone interested in learning more about California’s carbon market. The workshop is free and open to the public. However, space is limited, so please register in advance at: http://events.climateactionreserve.org

If you have any questions, please contact Scott Hernandez at 213-542-0295 or [email protected].

The Climate Registry invites members to join us for a day of networking, conversation, a GHG Reduction Goal Setting Workshop, and a site visit to see a local member’s sustainability best practices in action. There will be a small fee to cover the cost of lunch and transportation. If you would like to attend, please email Laura Zahn at [email protected].

California’s Cap-and-Trade Program made history when it officially launched January 1, 2012. It is the only economy-wide program in the U.S. and one of the world’s largest carbon markets. With a successful first allowance auction in November 2012 and the enforced compliance obligation for capped entities taking effect on January 1, 2013, the program is now in full swing with market trading gaining confidence.

This three-hour workshop will cover the basics of California’s Cap-and-Trade Program. Speakers will discuss how the program fits into the state’s landmark Global Warming Solutions Act (AB 32), timeframes established under the program, compliance entities and their obligations and basic market structure. The workshop is an excellent primer for people starting to learn about the program and a comprehensive refresher course for people wanting to brush up on their Cap-and-Trade Program knowledge. It is also a good precursor event for people who will attend the regular conference sessions. This workshop will be presented by Jan Mazurek and Steve Fine from ICF. Fee: $100

Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) is seeking offers of Greenhouse Gas Offset Credits that are eligible for compliance under California’s cap-and-trade regulation. On April 16 from 12:15 pm - 1:00 pm representatives from PG&E will provide an overview of the products being sought in the Request for Offers (RFO) and will answer questions from potential RFO participants. The session will be held in the Mendocino Room. Attendees are welcome to bring their lunch.

Copies of the 2013 GHG Offset Credit RFO Protocol and related information and materials are available on PG&E’s website at http://www.pge.com/rfo. Questions may be sent to [email protected].

Members of the public are invited to join the Climate Action Reserve for the open session of the Board of Directors meeting. The agenda will be available on the Climate Action Reserve website www.climateactionreserve.org.

The Climate Action Reserve invites you to attend a free workshop examining the use of forest offsets in California’s Cap-and-Trade Program. The workshop will provide information on the development of forest projects, comparing and contrasting the Reserve’s Forest Project Protocol approved for use in the Early Action Offset Program with the compliance version of the protocol. In addition, this workshop will feature a forest carbon offset project case study by Blue Source, an experienced project developer, who will share its experience and insight into the mechanics of implementing a successful forest carbon offset project, from early-stage development and implementation through to verification and bringing the credits to the market. Space is limited, so please register in advance at: http://events.climateactionreserve.org

If you have any questions, please contact Scott Hernandez at 213-542-0295 or [email protected].

This three-hour, three-part workshop is intended for attorneys working in the climate change arena who want to learn more about hot topics in the California offsets market.

Market structure and regulation for lawyers
The first session will provide an introduction to the California Cap-and-Trade Program’s market structure and regulation, including the applicable statutes and enforcement and oversight authorities. From Offset Project Operators to financial exchanges, this session will provide a roadmap of the legal and regulatory landscape governing the Cap-and-Trade Program. Panelists include Lily Mitchell from Hanna and Morton and Jonas Monast from the Nicholas Institute.

Contracting in the compliance market
The second session will provide an overview of purchase agreements in the compliance carbon market, including best practices regarding structuring contracts, what to watch out for, and how to mitigate risks. Experts will discuss what to include on behalf of clients seeking to buy or sell offsets and allowances—this is a deep dive for attorneys seeking guidance in this emerging practice area. Panelists include JP Brisson, Partner, Latham & Watkins, LLP; Christie Marquez, Senior Counsel, Chevron USA; and Sean Carney, President, Finite Carbon.

Using offsets as mitigation in the CEQA context
The third session will focus on the use of offsets outside of the regulatory Cap-and-Trade Program. In particular, GHG reduction credits, including the Reserve’s CRTs, are increasingly being used to mitigate air impacts in the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) context and in connection with other mitigation regimes. The panel will provide background on the use of offsets in the mitigation context, update the group on the status of efforts by regulatory entities in California to streamline the process of using offsets as mitigation, and provide examples of where offsets have successfully been retired in satisfaction of air impacts associated with project approval. "Panelists include David Vintze, Air Quality Planning Manager, Bay Area Air Quality Management District; Bill Sloan, Partner, Morrison & Foerster; and Cassie Gilson, Principal, Gilson Government Strategies.

Fee: $245

Could California link its cap-and-trade offsets program to international forest carbon? The REDD Offset Working Group invites you to a discussion on the benefits and challenges of bringing REDD+ credits into the California offset market. The REDD+ Offset Working Group (ROW) is an advisory group established in February 2011 by a memorandum of understanding between the Governors of California, Chiapas (Mexico), and Acre (Brazil), and convened to provide recommendations on how California might incorporate international programs for reducing emissions from deforestation and degradation (REDD) in its Cap-and-Trade Program. This meeting will provide an overview of ROW’s recommendations, leading into an expert panel discussion on key issues such as credit liability, how credits would flow, and what are the potential impacts on California's market.

Panelists include:
Xantha Bruso, Pacific Gas & Electric
Fabio Nehme, EDF Trading
Mike Korchinsky, Wildlife Works
Derik Broekhoff, Climate Action Reserve
Toby Janson-Smith, Conservation International

The discussion and comments from this workshop will feed into the revision process for the ROW Draft Recommendations, which will ultimately be delivered to the California Air Resources Board for consideration. Final written comments on the ROW recommendations are due by April 30, and further feedback is welcomed. Please come and discuss more about what a REDD+ offset program linked to California’s Cap-and-Trade Program might look like. Space is limited, so please register in advance at: http://events.climateactionreserve.org

A number of states and nations are taking action today tethered together by the common goal of addressing climate change. Members of this international group of leaders will discuss their environmental goals and strategies and consider the possibilities for meeting at the same trailhead in the future.

Speaker

Dirk Forrister

President and CEO

IETA

Speaker

Francisco Barnes

President

National Institute of Ecology, Government of Mexico

Speaker

Alain Houde

Government Representative

Québec

Speaker

James Mack

Head, British Columbia Climate Action Secretariat

Ministry of Environment

Speaker

Matt Rodriquez

Secretary for Environmental Protection

California Environmental Protection Agency

Speaker

Karen Lanyon

Consul-General

Australian Consulate-General

Moderator

Terry Tamminen

President and Founder

Seventh Generation Advisors

Summiting the world's most intimidating peaks takes an expedition with skilled individuals who can work together as a team. The Cedar Fire destroyed 95 percent of the conifer forest in California's treasured Cuyamaca Rancho State Park in 2003. With no funds to restore this vanishing habitat, the state park turned to the carbon market to support a reforestation project and enlisted the involvement of Disney and others. This panel will discuss the status of the project and examine how the teaming of public and private sectors can address our direst needs, both at Cuyamaca and beyond.

Speaker

Laurie Wayburn

President and Co-CEO

Pacific Forest Trust

Speaker

Caryl Hart

Chair

California State Parks Commission

Speaker

Bob Antonoplis

Assistant General Counsel

The Walt Disney Company

Speaker

Jason Clay

Senior Vice President Market Transformation

World Wildlife Fund (WWF)

Moderator

Linda Adams

Chair

Climate Action Reserve