Close on the heels of a new GHG program in Brazil, the Indian industry launched a national-level GHG Inventorization Program in Delhi, India, on May 28, 2008. Under the program, corporations will measure and manage their GHG emissions based on internationally recognized standards and monitor their progress towards voluntary reduction goals.

The India GHG Inventory Program is a partnership between the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), the US EPA, and the World Resources Institute. Following the GHG Protocol Corporate Standard and modeled after the US EPA Climate Leaders program, the program will be a crucial step in establishing a national model on emissions accounting, and in creating business and institutional capacity to undertake comprehensive GHG inventories and programs that can serve multiple business objectives nationally as well as globally.

“The India Greenhouse Gas Inventory Program will allow our companies to consistently and credibly monitor their emissions. We need a standardized protocol that is accepted all over the world to ensure credibility,” said Mr. K P Nyati, Principal Advisor, CII. CII’s Sohrabji Godrej Green Business Center (CII-GBC) will lead the implementation of the program.

The launch event was attended by corporations that have committed to participate in the national effort as well as other companies, and representatives from the government, civil society and media. A draft version of the program guide with specifications, rules and guidelines to develop entity-wide inventories and measure progress towards voluntary reduction goals was also released at the launch. CII invited comments and feedback on the guide, which will be incorporated in the final version due later this year.

“You can’t manage what you don’t measure,” said Manish Bapna, Executive Vice President and Managing Director of WRI. Over 40 companies from sectors such as iron and steel, cement, building, chemicals, and services have agreed to join the program.

“We’re glad to be working with Indian industry on this important initiative,” said Jim Sullivan, director of the U.S. EPA’s Climate Leaders program. “By adopting greenhouse gas management strategies that make business sense, India‘s industry leaders are demonstrating that a healthy environment and a healthy economy can, in fact, go hand-in-hand.” The launch event was followed by a day-long training workshop on various aspects of the GHG Protocol’s Corporate Standard for companies participating in the program.

The 45 member companies of the India GHG Inventory Program are: Air Treatment Engg., Apollo Hospitals Enterprises, Ashok Leyland, Bhuhari Holdings, Bosch Limited, Capricon Food Products, Cavinkare, Century Rayon, Control Techniques India, DCW, Elantas Beck India, Elico, ETA Engineering, Godrej & Boyce Mfg Co., Godrej Industries, Grundfos Pumps India, HIRCO, IM GEARS, Infosys Technologies, JBM Group, Khiviraj Tech Park, Kirloskar Oil Engines, LoyalTextile Mills, NICCO Corporation, NICCO Parks & Resorts, NTTF Industries, Praj Industries, Raman Fibrescience, Simpson & Co., T V Sundram Iyengar & Sons, Tata Power, The Tata Iron & Steel Co., The Tinplate Company of India, Thirumalai Chemicals, TTK LIG Ltd, Veena Die Casting & Engineers, Wipro, WS Industries, Birla Corporation, Dalmia Cement (Bharath), Kesoram Cement, Vasavadatta Cement, My Home Industries, Madras Cement, and Century Cement.

Funding for the program is provided by the Asia Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate and the US EPA.

Photo: Heather Cowper/Flickr