Emission Inventories
and Carbon Footprints

ICF aids private and public clients in measuring and monitoring GHG emissions. ICF has GHG inventory experience at all scales:

• International—emission scenarios for IPCC, IPCC Guidance development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Climate Change Risk Assessment Framework

• National—United States, Australia, Canada, and national systems support for Central America; inventories for over 50 developing countries

• State—Emission Inventory Improvement Program (EIIP) guidance; inventories for California, Florida, and Texas

• Entity—corporate- and project-level inventories for dozens of companies and potential Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) and Joint Implementation (JI) projects

In addition to GHG inventory capabilities, ICF has internationally recognized, in-depth expertise pertaining to carbon tools, including CDM and JI.

Selected Projects

GHG Emission Inventory, Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission. ICF is currently supporting the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC) in developing an inventory and forecast that will assist the region, as well as the counties and municipalities it contains, in benchmarking and ultimately reducing GHG emissions. This effort represents the first step toward developing a comprehensive regional climate change strategy for DVRPC. In the first phase of this work, ICF developed a protocol for conducting the regional GHG inventory that is consistent with emerging standards for regional GHG inventories. This work dovetails with ICF's concurrent support to U.S. EPA in the development of regional GHG inventory methods. In the second phase of this work, which is nearing completion, ICF is developing a GHG inventory for the nine-county DVRPC region, which will then be disaggregated into a sub-regional GHG emissions baseline. ICF will also develop inventory projections for a future calendar year and three 2035 scenarios. To develop the projections, ICF will draw from the GHG inventory; DVRPC’s existing demographic, economic, and transportation network projects; national projections; and observed national, state, and regional trends. ICF will also utilize our experience in developing the U.S. EPA’s State GHG Inventory Projection Tool and the U.S. EPA’s Integrated Climate and Land Use Scenarios, a set of detailed national demographic and land use projections to 2100 currently in development. This work will culminate in the preparation of a final report presenting the methods and results of the inventory and projections.

Climate Strategy Development for Yahoo! ICF is working with Yahoo! to help the company formulate its climate strategy. ICF’s support includes all elements to help Yahoo! design and implement a global GHG inventory system that is transparent and enables the company to track its progress over time. ICF is responsible for all aspects of the inventory development process, including specification of the appropriate boundary conditions, collection of the necessary data from all global operations, and development of the inventory estimates and supporting data management tool that will allow the company to easily update its inventory in subsequent years. In addition, ICF has helped Yahoo! examine various carbon offset options worldwide, including pursuing a global carbon offset tender process to purchase offsets to reduce its carbon footprint. In 2007, Yahoo! declared carbon neutrality, and ICF is currently working with Yahoo! to achieve carbon neutrality again in 2008.

Climate Footprint and Carbon Disclosure Project Support for Time Warner. In 2007 and 2008, ICF worked with Time Warner to develop its corporate carbon footprint across all eight Time Warner divisions, including AOL, Time Warner Cable, HBO, and Time, Inc., and to explore energy efficiency and carbon reduction options for its building portfolio. As part of this effort, in 2008, ICF worked extensively with Time Warner to complete its first Carbon Disclosure Project submission.

Carbon Neutrality Support for eBay. For the past two years, ICF has been helping eBay achieve carbon neutrality through the development of its corporate carbon footprint and the detailed review and negotiation of carbon offset project purchases. ICF also worked with eBay to develop an extensive employee engagement program, educating employees across the company on sustainability issues, and creating an eBay advisory team, with representatives from all 3 corporate divisions—PayPal, Skype, and Marketplace—to determine the company’s carbon offset purchase to fulfill eBay’s carbon neutrality commitment.

Well to Wheels Assessment of GHG Emissions, Shell Canada. The well to wheels study is a comparison of the Alberta oil sands carbon footprint to that of other marker crude oils likely to be displaced by oil sands in the U.S. Midwest. The study provided Shell with the baseline information for setting GHG performance goals with respect to its expanded oil sands operations, in consultation with its stakeholders. ICF first derived the CO₂e lifecycle footprint (comprised of production, transportation, refining, and end-use) of an average barrel of crude oil imported into and refined in the U.S. for transport fuel. ICF then derived the analogous CO₂e life cycle footprint for Canadian oil sand synthetic crude and compared these with the design CO₂e footprint of the Athabasca oil sands project expansion crude product. For each CO₂e estimate, ICF conducted a first-principles engineering study to size pumps, pipelines, and other equipment and then quantify power usage, fuel requirements, and GHG emissions for displaced crude oils—from reservoir, through transport and refining, to end use fuels. The work included development of a petroleum refinery GHG emissions estimator module, which quantified GHG emissions for each refinery source.

New York Greenhouse Gas Taskforce Policy Analysis, New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). In support of New York Governor Pataki’s Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Taskforce, ICF conducted an analysis of the impacts of CO₂ and renewable policy measures on the electricity generation system in New York and the neighboring region. The analysis was conducted using ICF’s Integrated Planning Model (IPM®). ICF worked with the Taskforce participants to develop assumptions for the IPM® modeling analysis to reflect the power generation system, fuel markets, and the renewable potential in New York. Eight policy scenarios for the IPM analysis were developed with inputs from the Taskforce’s Electricity Working Group members. The scenarios represented combinations of policy variables, including alternative carbon cap levels, alternative geographic scopes of CO₂ caps, energy efficiency penetration, and implementation of a renewable portfolio standard. ICF produced results that included forecast emissions levels, power prices, renewable power premiums, and the impact on the relative competitiveness of New York generators under the difference scenarios.

Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). ICF completed the electric sector analysis for the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). RGGI is a coalition of 10 states in the northeast and mid-Atlantic that are pursuing the implementation of a regional greenhouse gas reduction strategy. Using ICF’s Integrated Planning Model (IPM®) modeling framework, ICF examined and quantified a series of proposed policy measures intended to reduce CO₂ emissions from the power sector in the region. Integral to this analysis is a detailed treatment of the renewable resource cost and performance and availability in the northeast and mid-Atlantic, and how renewable portfolio standard requirements interact with conventional wholesale power markets and impact the CO₂ emissions trajectory in the region.

Connecticut Greenhouse Gas Policy Assessment. In support of the Stakeholders Dialog’s efforts to establish a CO₂ emissions baseline and suggest mitigation options to the Governor’s Steering Committee, ICF performed an analysis of the Connecticut and Northeast energy and environmental markets under a range of policy scenarios. The scenarios, developed under the guidance of the Stakeholders, included both state-specific and regional requirements. Connecticut polices included renewable portfolio standards and efficiency incentive packages. On the regional level, a 10-state CO₂ cap was analyzed, both individually and in conjunction with the state-specific policies. ICF used ICF’s Integrated Planning Model (IPM®) to assess the impacts of these policies on state and regional emissions, energy prices, and new capacity investments.

U.S. GHG Emissions Inventory. In support of the U.S. commitments under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), ICF has been the lead contractor for preparing the national GHG inventory since the development of the first such inventory in 1990. ICF has developed many of the specific methodologies that are used to prepare inventory estimates for individual source categories. In addition to estimating emissions from nearly every source listed in the U.S. Inventory, ICF is responsible for aggregating total emissions, evaluating emission trends, and developing the final National Inventory Report submitted to the UNFCCC. As part of this process, ICF orchestrates both expert and public reviews of the Inventory annually, and has developed and follows a rigid plan for quality assurance and quality control of every aspect of the Inventory development. An international review team evaluated all country inventories submitted at the time, and considered the United States inventory to be the most comprehensive, well-documented inventory, and the one that most closely met the objectives outlined in the IPCC Reporting Guidelines. Additionally, ICF has prepared every set of U.S. Common Reporting Format (CRF) tables submitted to the UNFCCC, as well as their predecessor, the IPCC Reporting Tables.

2006 IPCC National Greenhouse Gas Inventory Guidelines. ICF personnel participated in the development of the 2006 guidelines as Principal Author of the methodology for petrochemical production, and as a Contributing Author of the methodology for iron and steel production. ICF personnel and co-authors developed methodologies to estimate GHG emissions from a variety of sectors, including agriculture, forest and other land uses; industrial processes and product use; and energy. ICF staff also reviewed the sections on uncertainty and general guidance/reporting.

California Climate Change Action Registry’s GHG Reporting and Certification Protocols. ICF International prepared the California Climate Change Action Registry’s GHG Reporting and Certification Protocols. These guidance documents set out the methodologies and management systems for registry participants to follow when preparing GHG emissions reports and conducting independent certifications of their reported emissions.

Development of Environment Canada’s Entity-Level GHG Emission Measurement and Reporting Protocols. ICF International provided Environment Canada with a technical analysis of the uncertainty and reliability of entity-level GHG emission estimation, measurement, and reporting. ICF worked with stakeholder groups in Canada (industry, environmental nongovernmental organizations (NGO), and government officials) to assess the expected confidence of measuring GHG emissions for all sectors in the economy, and the impact on entity reporting data as compared with national inventory reporting coefficients.

Technical Assistance to Ukraine and Belarus Regarding Global Climate Change Commitments. ICF has been retained to support the Governments of Ukraine and Belarus in all aspects of capacity building to help both governments meet their Kyoto Protocol obligations. This extends to national inventory development, national registries guidance, setting up procedures for JI, undertaking workshops to facilitate training and technology transfer, and awareness raising on climate change issues among government agencies, the private sector, and other stakeholders. ICF manages the EuropeAid/TACIS project in Belarus and Ukraine to develop the technical, legal, and human capacity for implementing the Kyoto Protocol under the European Commission's Technical Aid to the Commonwealth of Independent States. ICF coordinates local office staff in both countries, manages budget communications with Belarusian and Ukrainian governments and the EC Delegation Task Manager, and organizes training seminars, study tours, and workshops on JI, GHG registries, and strategic issues of Kyoto compliance.

GHG Inventory of the Ukrainian Electric Power Sector. ICF provided technical support, oversight, and review of the GHG inventory of the Ukrainian electric power sector. This work was co-sponsored by the Ukrainian Ministry of Energy. ICF advises the Ukrainian GHG inventory team on best inventory methods and conducted a series of training seminars.

GHG Emission Inventory and Climate Strategy, Global Financial Company. ICF is carrying out the GHG inventory of a global financial company to establish a basic grounding for its climate change strategy. In parallel, ICF is conducting a benchmark exercise on what peer companies are doing in areas such as emission inventory, climate commitments, and green products. Main objectives of the project include: 1) to recommend an adapted reporting tool for future carbon footprint calculations; 2) to determine detailed reduction targets; 3) to develop cost estimates for emission reduction options; 4) to analyze opportunities for climate-oriented products and services.

Development of Emissions Inventory Framework, Swire Pacific Group. ICF provided the group with strategic support to implement high quality GHG emissions inventory processes, identify and assess main mitigation options, and evaluate how climate change and related international and regional policies could impact the group within the next 10 years.

Emissions Inventory and Strategic Advisory, HSBC. For HSBC’s global operations, ICF assessed total GHG emissions and advised HSBC on options for attaining the goal of carbon neutrality. In addition to the GHG inventory work, ICF provided due diligence for various emission reduction projects and managed the acquisition of carbon offsets through a tendering process.

GHG Emissions Inventory Verification Audit for Petrobras. ICF, in conjunction with our Rio de Janeiro office, performed verification audits of Petroleo Brasiliero SA (Petrobras), the Brazilian state-owned petroleum company, in 2005. This audit covered the four largest GHG emission facilities in different sectors of Petrobras’ operations: offshore crude oil production, a complex refinery, a fertilizer plant, and a refinery in Argentina. Greenhouse gases evaluated included methane, carbon dioxide (CO₂), and nitrous oxide (N₂O). ICF interviewed the Petrobras experts in each operating area, filling out our audit checklist to thoroughly investigate all possible sources and clearly understand the data, assumptions, and analyses that went into GHG estimation. We also investigated and documented peripheral aspects of the program, such as the clear definitions of boundaries, consistency, de minimus sources, data retention, documentation, training, and management responsibility. ICF provided the client with a verification statement consistent with the draft International Standard ISO/DIS 14064-3. ICF identified a number of issues that were resolved by Petrobras before the verification statement was formally issued.

Greenhouse Gas Audit for BP Amoco. ICF International was part of a three-company team retained by BP Amoco to review and evaluate its GHG emissions auditing protocols. The GHG auditing protocols used by BP Amoco to estimate CO₂ and methane emissions were the first to be consistent with international financial and accounting standards. The team developed an audit process and institutionalized it through the preparation of internal audit manuals and checklists. The subsequent audit evaluated GHG emissions data reported by the company for 1990 and 1998 baselines. The findings provided the client with a mechanism for continuous improvement in data collection, analysis, and reporting.

Company-Wide Emissions Baseline for UK Operations of a French Chemical Company Entering the UK Emissions Trading Scheme. ICF International prepared a GHG emissions baseline document for one of Europe’s largest chemical companies interested in taking on an absolute GHG emissions reduction target in exchange for a financial incentive and participation in the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (UKETS). The project covered the UK operations of the French-based chemical company, a leading player in the international commodity chemicals business.

J.D. Irving GHG Emissions Inventory Assessment Revisions and Protocol Development. ICF International worked with J.D. Irving to meet its GHG, NO_x, and SO₂ emissions management goals for the company's Irving Forest Products division. The Forest Products division manufactures pulp, tissue, paper and corrugated medium from its six pulp mill operations in New Brunswick (4), Ontario (1), and the United States. ICF International helped the company develop a baseline (1990) and annual inventories (years 1991 through present) for GHG and current year baselines for NO_x and SO₂ emissions, given the probability of their near-term regulation. ICF developed a multi-pollutant protocol for efficient and accurate quantification of emissions.

Carbon Dioxide Transportation and Sequestration. ICF has assisted the U.S. Department of Energy in long-range planning of future supplies of energy for transportation and power generation. This work included analysis on long-term coal, oil, and natural gas supplies and their transportation within the United States. This work also included analysis of how greenhouse gas restrictions could affect the relative economics of fuels and how fuels would be produced and used, including capture, transportation, and underground sequestration of carbon dioxide.

Examination of Options to Reduce Carbon Footprint. For a major electric utility, ICF advised on how to quantify GHG emissions and developed methodology for assessing options to reduce emissions. The methodology was devised as a hands-on template to allow any users to evaluate the full slate of emission reduction options, both on-system and off-system. The analytical tool could be used to construct a company-wide marginal abatement cost curve incorporating the actual costs and quantity of emissions reduced from each option.

Carbon Footprint Analysis, News Corporation. ICF International has been involved in the design, analysis, and implementation of a GHG footprint for News Corporation, one of the world’s largest media companies. The inventory served as the foundation for the company’s recently announced plan to be carbon neutral by 2010. The assignment included: (1) assisting News Corporation in understanding implications for its operations of GHG reporting principles according to corporate best practices, such as those derived from the World Resources Institute (WRI)/World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) GHG Protocol Initiative (“GHG Protocol”); (2) assisting News Corporation in establishing the key elements of its GHG and energy reporting process; (3) defining a methodological framework based on detailed analysis of representative operations at News Corporation; and (4) implementing the defined methodological framework to News Corporation global operations and aggregating the global CO₂, GHG, and energy data collected through the designed framework.

Carbon Management Program for The Carbon Trust. ICF International provided support to the Strategic Planning Unit at the Carbon Trust, a UK private entity funded by public funds to help UK business move to a low carbon profile. ICF International developed a series of tools and services that can be used by the Carbon Trust to help UK businesses become engaged in efforts to reduce GHG emissions.