World Carbon Database Launches To Track Global Carbon Offsets
September 16, 2009
The World Carbon Database (WCD) today launched the world's first integrated database for carbon offset credits and carbon reduction credits. WCD, a non-profit open resource, uses proprietary data collection tools at the point of sale to archive customer and product data, and is a single comprehensive source for data about carbon credit purchases and purchasers. WCD's database will provide the basis for consistent, in-depth and up-to-the-minute analysis of consumer activity in the emerging carbon markets. The WCD anticipates that its market data will support decision making for carbon management services, policy makers, consumers, and carbon trading operations. WCD's data will also be a source for academic research about the carbon markets. The database found at www.worldcarbondatabase.org is a single source for data about carbon credit purchases and purchasers.
"We are thrilled by the early adoption of the WCD. Our partners will make this endeavor a true success and we're pleased to see offset sellers joining us to support the initiation of WCD," said Fred Krueger, Founder and CEO of the WCD. WCD has already received commitment from many of the major carbon offset providers including founding partners and industry leaders TerraPass, BEF (Bonneville Environmental Foundation) and Native Energy. These companies are the first to offer their clients the opportunity to be listed in the WCD.
Tom Boucher, founder and CEO of NativeEnergy said, "Having an organization step up to provide this kind of support to the voluntary carbon market is tremendous. For almost a decade, we have been supporting projects that are causing real reductions in greenhouse gases, and this outreach will help us as we expand our work in the next decade."
According to Minor Childers, WCD President, "The carbon market will not reach critical mass until consumers understand the value of offsets. This understanding begins by learning about climate change itself." WCD is currently enlisting the world's senior scientific leadership to wage the war for this knowledge. WCD is in discussions with Scripps Institution of Oceanography to create a worldwide educational network anchored by its database. A customized learning portal is already under development that will link WCD members to the science behind climate change. "It's not enough to just deal with offset credits," says Terri Durbin, WCD's Director of Partnerships, "businesses and consumers demand to know what it all means."
Scripps Institution of Oceanography has been at the forefront of climate change research for more than 50 years, beginning with the early studies of Charles David Keeling on carbon dioxide concentrations and the vision of former Scripps Institution of Oceanography Director Roger Revelle of the future of the earth and the impact of greenhouse gases. The inception of the "Keeling Curve," a history of atmospheric carbon dioxide levels, marked a key moment in American science history. More recently, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), a United Nations-sponsored body of scientists that includes several from Scripps Institution of Oceanography, won the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize along with former Vice President Al Gore. About a dozen Scripps Institution of Oceanography scientists contributed to the Fourth Assessment Report. Much of what is referenced the IPCC's reports on the state of climate change research is work that is done at Scripps Institution of Oceanography.
In the near future, WCD will offer users a full suite of educational programs customized for participants of all ages developed in conjunction with Scripps Institution of Oceanography. "At WCD our business is more than just data, it's knowledge," said WCD President Minor Childers.
About World Carbon Database
The World Carbon Database (WCD) is a non-profit open resource that indexes carbon offsets. WCD (patent pending) does not sell carbon offsets, and is an entirely free service, designed only to promote the usage of carbon offsets and responsible ecological behavior. For more information please visit www.worldcarbondatabase.org.
Copyright Business Wire 2009