HONOLULU – As part of North America's largest climate change initiative, the state of Hawai'i is urging businesses and other organizations to voluntarily report greenhouse gas emissions as part of The Climate Registry program.

The Climate Registry's new General Reporting Protocol is a comprehensive guideline outlining a common standard for reporting corporate, governmental and other greenhouse gas emissions data that is consistent across industry sectors and borders.

The General Reporting Protocol is significant because it defines how voluntary reporting entities calculate, verify and publicly report greenhouse gas emissions. The protocol document incorporates public comments from workshops conducted throughout North America.

Gov. Linda Lingle acted to make Hawai'i a founding member of The Climate Registry in April 2007. The registry includes 39 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, three Native American tribes, seven Canadian provinces, and six Mexican states, and is governed by a board of directors.

"We are proud to be an integral part of the formation of The Climate Registry and encourage our local corporations and organizations to join this early effort taking action on climate change by measuring and publicly reporting their greenhouse gas emissions to the Registry," said Laurence Lau, deputy director for Environment Health, and Hawai'i's registry board member. "We are working to see that upcoming federal reporting standards build upon the work The Climate Registry has done, to minimize burdens on participating organizations."

Organizations that join The Climate Registry before May 1 will be considered Founding Reporters and will receive continued recognition for their outstanding environmental leadership in measuring and publicly reporting their greenhouse gas emissions on a voluntary basis. Seventy-five leading corporations, nonprofit organizations, cities and counties are currently reporting their greenhouse gas emission to The Climate Registry.

The Registry's database can provide a tracking system for states, provinces, and tribes to implement voluntary, mandatory, and market-based programs, at their choice.

For more information visit: www.theclimateregistry.org.