May Newsletter: A new website and a new South America office

New website, new webinars – and a new regional office

Dear Friends & Colleagues,

I am pleased to announce that we will launch our new VCS website in the last week of May. This is a big milestone in our efforts to expand and improve support and outreach for program users. Also, as part of our broader effort to support stakeholders, we will host two webinars to introduce and explain two recently approved methodologies. And, in case you missed last week’s big news, we agreed on 10 May to partner with private-public sector development organization Fundación Chile to open the first regional VCS office for program users in South America.

Read on to learn more about these developments – and also our upcoming cocktail reception at Carbon Expo, where we will commemorate all the important milestones achieved this year.

Sincerely,

David Antonioli

On 30 May, VCS will launch a new website that will improve program transparency and usability. At the most basic level, streamlined categories and logical drop-down menus will make it easier to navigate the VCS Program and find relevant information such as available methodologies and methodologies under development. The new site will also provide more information about ongoing program development including VCS initiatives to create guidance and requirements in new areas. And it will add to transparency by improving the search-ability of the VCS project database. We hope you will find time to explore the new site and share any feedback with us. Our efforts to expand the website and to increase program usability and transparency will be ongoing. www.v-c-s.org.

On 10 May, VCS agreed to partner with Fundación Chile to open the first VCS regional office. From Santiago, the new office will support projects and suppliers of VCUs across Spanish-speaking South America and promote the uptake of VCS principles and requirements in the context of emerging voluntary and compliance regimes. As part of this effort, we will work with Fundación Chile to convene an Advisory Committee of experts from across South America to guide development of new initiatives. Fundación Chile, a private-public development organization that has led many successful initiatives, is a partner in the new Santiago Climate Exchange. Read more.

In May, VCS will host two webinars to introduce program users to newly approved methodologies. The first webinar, introducing a methodology that credits efforts to curb jet fuel use via engine washing, will be held Wednesday 18 May at 1600 GMT. Register at www3.gotomeeting.com/register/425632030. The second, introducing a new AFOLU methodology for protecting temperate and boreal forests from planned logging, will be held Tuesday 24 May 1630 GMT. Registration information will be circulated by email.

If you find these webinars helpful, send us a note at secretariat@v-c-s.org. We are exploring new ways to offer more guidance on using VCS methodologies and may host more webinars in the future.

On 26 April, a new Improved Forest Management methodology to quantify the GHG benefits of protecting temperate and boreal forest areas was approved for use. The new approach, developed by 3GreenTree and Ecosystem Restoration Associates, quantifies the GHG benefits of projects that convert private properties, where timber harvesting is already planned, into protected areas. Read more.

On 3 May, a methodology to quantify the GHG benefits of jet engine washing was approved for use. The methodology, developed by Pratt & Whitney, aims to incentivize on-wing engine washing, which reduces fuel consumption. While jet engines undergo periodic off-wing maintenance, they are seldom washed while on-wing. Read more.

On 12 May, two new AFOLU methodologies developed by Terra Global Capital entered the methodology assessment pipeline. One methodology aims to quantify the GHG emission reductions achieved by reducing planned deforestation and forest degradation in un-drained peat swamp forests. The other aims to quantify the emission reductions generated through improved management of rice fields and decreased release of methane to the atmosphere. See the new methodologies.

On 2 June, VCS will host a cocktail reception at Carbon Expo to celebrate all our major developments this year, from our new name to our new regional office. Staff and board members will be there to raise their glasses with stakeholders and talk about VCS plans for 2011 and 2012. We sincerely hope you can attend! For info email awelsh@v-c-s.org.

Stakeholders wishing to use the VCS trademark should contact VCS in order to obtain and sign a logo-use agreement. Please contact vcslogo@v-c-s.org.