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The Carbon Neutral Alliance (CNA) is a program of the Center for Resource Solutions that provides resources and guidance to foundations, their grantees, and other NGOs as they explore and implement their own greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction strategies.

We would like to thank the Rockefeller Brothers Fund and the Wolfensohn Family Fund, whose generous support has provided the start-up funding for the Carbon Neutral Alliance.

PROGRAM GOALS

• Encourage sustainability among members
• Help members calculate their greenhouse gas (GHG) inventories
• Educate members about how to reduce their GHG footprints, including energy conservation, energy efficiency, and renewable energy options
• Act as a resource for finding high-quality renewable electricity products, renewable energy certificates (RECs), and GHG offsets
• Provide a forum for discussions among members about sustainability and leading-edge efforts to reduce GHG footprints
• Help members become “carbon neutral”
• Find ways to expand the membership among related organizations

SERVICES

The Carbon Neutral Alliance provides technical assistance in your quest for carbon neutrality while assisting in building a coalition among members.

Services and materials provided to members include:

• Helping you calculate your greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory.  Resources include:
• User-friendly CNA Guidance document, updated annually
• GHG Inventory Spreadsheet calculator, updated annually
• Technical assistance with calculations and questions available to members by phone
• Website: A GHG calculator will be posted on the CNA website for simple calculations
• Offering a list of potential providers for high-quality renewable electricity products, RECs, and GHG offsets.
• Granting members with the use of the Carbon Neutral Alliance logo, which is being developed this fall.
• Organizing and facilitating meetings and conference calls for discussion and interaction among members on how to define and reach carbon neutrality and related issues.

The Carbon Neutral Alliance is a work in progress. As participants identify their interests and needs, other support services will be added.

CNA FAQs

• What is an organization’s carbon footprint?
• What does carbon neutrality mean?
• How do we calculate our carbon footprint?
• Who can become a CNA member?
• How much does it cost to join?
• Why voluntarily offset my emissions when there will probably be a federal mandate to do so in the next few years?
• How can I lower my greenhouse gas offset footprint?
• Isn’t it expensive to become carbon neutral?
• Why join this Alliance?

Q: What is an organization’s carbon footprint?
A carbon footprint represents the impact of an organization’s activities on emissions of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

Q: What does carbon neutrality mean?
If the carbon dioxide emissions from a specific activity (e.g. driving a car) can be "neutralized" by purchasing an equivalent number of carbon dioxide reductions from somewhere else (e.g. capturing methane or generating renewable energy) then it could be said that activity is now carbon neutral.

Q: How do we calculate our carbon footprint?
Members are provided with an easy-to-use spreadsheet estimator and guidance document; the emission calculations are based on guidance from internationally recognized protocols.

Q: Who can become a CNA member?
Environmental grantmaking organizations, their grantees, and select environmental non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are eligible to participate.

Q: How much does it cost to join?
A membership fee structure is currently being developed. Please contact rachael [at] resource-solutions [dot] org for more details.

Q: Why voluntarily offset my emissions when there will probably be a federal mandate to do so in the next few years?
Contrary to popular belief, cap and trade programs are not carbon neutral (they gradually reduce the amount of carbon that is going into the atmosphere), and they do not apply to small to medium size entities that are not direct greenhouse gas emitters. The Carbon Neutral Alliance focuses specifically on small to medium sized organizations that will never be regulated.

Q: How can I reduce my carbon footprint?
Incorporating energy efficiency and simple modifications in lifestyle can lower an organization’s carbon footprint. Simple things like encouraging employee use of mass transportation; purchasing offsets for airline flights at the time of ticket purchase; and using phone and video conferencing instead of non-essential face-to-face meetings are great ways to reduce your footprint.  In addition, members can choose to purchase Renewable Energy Certificates, White Tags, or other forms of carbon offsets. Some organizations may have the option of using on-site renewable generation based on whether or not they own the building that contains their office. The Carbon Neutral Alliance member website will house a comprehensive list of options and links to verified providers.

Q: What's the difference between greenhouse gasses and carbon?
There are many gasses that contribute to climate change, each with difference levels of "potency" in their effect on global warming. That's why gasses are translated into their "carbon equivalent," or pounds (or tonnes) of CO₂. For example, because methane is around 20 times more potent than CO₂, when a ton of methane is avoided it is multiplied by 20 or 30 (whatever the currently accepted number is) to get the tons of CO₂ equivalent. So when we talk about carbon neutrality, we are really talking about reducing the emissions of all greenhouse gasses, measured by their carbon equivalent.

Q: Isn’t it expensive to become carbon neutral?
It is probably much less expensive than you think. The largest variable is how much air travel your staff does each year.

Q: Why join this Alliance?
We need to be models for the actions we espouse. Organizations and individuals that are promoting climate change programs often come under scrutiny about what they are doing themselves to reduce greenhouse gases. At the same time, carbon neutrality claims must be credible and verifiable. If the offsets used are not credible or the inventory methods to arrive at your carbon footprint are not sound, this can also cause problems. At the Center for Resource Solutions, we believe that mitigating the risks of climate change through voluntary action is very important. We strive to arm Carbon Neutral Alliance members with the tools they need to conduct a complete inventory, estimate their costs, and offset carbon emissions with credible, certified/verified options compatible with any budget.

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