California AB 1305: Our emissions commitments and disclosures
Kaiser Permanente has historically worked to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and reduce our carbon footprint. We recognize the importance of reporting accurate information about our efforts and progress. While we make all reasonable efforts to ensure our disclosures are verified and accurate, some variation due to data availability may occur. Below you can find additional information on how we measure, verify, and disclose our emissions commitments and reduction goals.
Our carbon neutral process: calculate, offset, verify, certify, disclose
Kaiser Permanente participates in an annual certification process as outlined in The CarbonNeutral Protocol. This publicly available protocol, produced and updated annually by Climate Impact Partners, is a framework with defined requirements for corporate carbon neutral claims and CarbonNeutral® certification.
Calculate
Kaiser Permanente compiles an annual enterprise emissions inventory, in line with the emissions calculation and disclosure requirements of The CarbonNeutral Protocol. Details on Kaiser Permanente’s annual emissions inventories are publicly posted to the Climate Registry Information System, a database hosted by The Climate Registry.
Offset
Voluntary Carbon Offsets
In addition to investing in on-site solar panels and other technologies, Kaiser Permanente offsets to 0 (zero) all required emissions calculation categories of The CarbonNeutral Protocol through the use of carbon instruments accepted by the protocol. Kaiser Permanente works with third-party sellers to retire International Carbon Reduction and Offset Alliance (ICROA) accredited voluntary carbon offsets to help meet our commitment to carbon neutrality.
Renewable energy credits
Kaiser Permanente purchases renewable energy credits certified by Green-e® to meet our commitment to CarbonNeutral certification, as well as our commitment to 100% renewable energy. Information on renewable energy credits purchased by Kaiser Permanente is maintained on the Climate Registry Information System, a publicly accessible database hosted by The Climate Registry.
Verify
Kaiser Permanente’s emissions inventory is reviewed by an accredited third-party verifier, which follows emissions inventory verification procedures: ISO 14064-3:2006(E), The Climate Registry’s General Verification Protocol, The Climate Registry’s General Reporting Protocol, The CarbonNeutral Protocol. If this process is completed successfully, the verifier provides a limited assurance assertion.
Certify
Once inventory calculation, offset, and verification is complete, Climate Impact Partners issues Kaiser Permanente a CarbonNeutral certificate.
Posted with permission from Climate Impact Partners.
Information on carbon offsets retained for CarbonNeutral certification period
Offset volume purchased: 60,000 VCUs
Seller name: 3Degrees Group Inc.
Registry: Verra
Program: Verified Carbon Standard
Project name: Reducing Gas Leakages within Titas Gas Distribution Network in Bangladesh
Project ID: VCS 2478
Project type: Fugitive emissions from fuels (solid, oil, and gas)
Project location: Bangladesh
Protocol/Methodology: AM0023 ver. 04 — Leak detection and repair in gas production, processing, transmission, storage, and distribution systems and in refinery facilities
Verification: Validated by Carbon Check (India) Private Ltd.
Offset volume purchased: 170,000 VCUs
Seller name: 3Degrees Group Inc.
Registry: ACR
Program: American Carbon Registry
Project name: Advanced Refrigeration and Foam Blowing Agent Project 001P (MO)
Project ID: ACR1005, 832, 737,833, 929, 1036, and 1088
Project type: Industrial Process Emissions
Project location: United States
Protocol/Methodology: Advanced Refrigeration Systems 2.1 and Transition to Advanced Formulation Blowing Agents in Foam Manufacturing and Use
Verification: Validated and verified by First Environment Inc. and TÜV SÜD America Inc.
Offset volume purchased: 120,000 VCUs
Seller name: 3Degrees Group Inc.
Registry: Climate Action Reserve
Program: Climate Action Reserve
Project name: South Kent Landfill Gas to Energy Project
Project ID: CAR443
Project type: Avoided Emissions
Project location: United States
Protocol/Methodology: Climate Action Reserve’s U.S. Landfill Protocol Version 6.0
Offset volume purchased: 10,000 VCUs
Seller name: 3Degrees Group Inc.
Registry: GSF Registry
Program: Gold Standard VER
Project name: CPA 057 — Charcoal Stoves in Kenya
Project ID: GS11879
Project type: Avoided Emissions — Energy Efficiency
Project location: Kenya
Protocol/Methodology: Gold Standard Simplified Methodology for Clean and Efficient Cookstoves
Verification: E-0052 Carbon Check (India) Private Limited
Disclose
Upon completion by a third-party verification, Kaiser Permanente’s emissions inventory is publicly posted to our webpage in the Climate Registry Information System, a database hosted by The Climate Registry.
For more information about how to access the data, see the “How to navigate the Climate Registry Information System” section below.
How to navigate the Climate Registry Information System
- Navigate to the CRIS database in your web browser. Sign in if you already have an account. If you do not have an account with CRIS, you are able to create a free account using the email and password you choose. More information on CRIS, such as terms and conditions, is available on the CRIS sign-up page.
- On the top banner of the homepage titled “Climate Registry Information System (CRIS)”, select “Review and Analyze,” then select “Verified Reports” from the drop-down menu.
- From the “Verified Reports” webpage, search and select “Kaiser Permanente” from the Entity Name Search field. Alternatively, select Kaiser Permanente from the Entity drop-down menu. From the Emissions Year drop-down menu, select the emissions year for which you wish to see data.
- Once you have configured the above on the “Verified Reports” webpage, you can review publicly posted emissions reports and supporting documentation for the year you selected.
Emissions Reports: To review emissions reports, follow steps 1 through 4 and then select “Reports”. In the settings under “Public Reports,” note that “Region” should be set as “Global” or “North America.” Kaiser Permanente Emissions reports are available at the “Summary” and “Detail (Public)” level of detail. Organizational Boundary should be set as “Control” as Kaiser Permanente follows the Operational Control approach in line with the CarbonNeutral Protocol. Once you have calibrated the Reports Settings for Kaiser Permanente for the desired year, select “View report.” Scroll down the page to view the report once it has loaded.
Supporting Documents and Supplementary Forms: To review supporting documentation, follow steps 1 through 4 and then select “Supporting Documents.” From the list of available documents, select the document(s) you wish to review and then click “View document.” Scroll down the webpage to view the supporting document once it has loaded. If you wish to review Kaiser Permanente’s supplementing forms, select which form you would like to view under “Supplementing Forms” and then select “Show Form.” Scroll down the webpage to view the form once it has loaded.