WRI's Annual Carbon Dioxide Inventory Report

This report presents WRI’s CO2 inventory for calendar years 2006 and 2007. It details emission sources included and excluded from the inventory, describes how emissions data were collected and calculated, summarizes how emissions have changed over time, and describes WRI’s GHG management activities.

WRI’s total emissions were 1,125 metric tons of CO2 in 2006 and 1,288 metric tons of CO2 in 2007. This represents an approximately 6% and 21% increase above our 2000 base year emissions, respectively. WRI has committed to offset its emissions to achieve its goal of a “net zero” emissions balance every year. For 2006, WRI procured offset credits through the Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX), a voluntary, U.S.-based emissions trading program. For 2007, WRI purchased credits compliant under the Clean Development Mechanism of the Kyoto Protocol, known as certified emission reductions (CERs). These credits were sourced from a landfill gas to energy project in China and a renewable (wind) energy project in India. In 2009, WRI intends to release a review document that describes the Institute’s recent decision-making process regarding offsets and its experiences with purchasing CERs.

Finally, this report highlights two important greenhouse gas management activities that took place during 2006-2007:

• LEED Gold Certification of WRI’s office expansion space which includes a rating for energy efficiency; and
• The design of a new green roof project for WRI’s office building that will help increase building insulation.

WRI’s CO2 Emissions: 2000-2007

* Base Year: 2000