Earthpace (acting as a consultant to the INECE Secretariat) is supporting the development and launch of a Carbon Market Compliance Network, which will seek to raise the level of compliance in carbon offset programs and emission trading systems to ensure delivery of environmental benefits and maintenance of the financial integrity of the market. The Compliance Network will promote principles and best practices for environmental compliance within the Clean Development Mechanism and Joint Implementation markets and will evolve to include any post-Kyoto project-based mechanisms. The Network will bring together multidisciplinary practitioners from developed and developing country governments, United Nations programs and other international organizations, and representatives from the private sector and civil society.

Earthpace contributed two articles to INECE's Special Report on Climate Compliance – an analysis of the role of compliance in assuring environmental and financial integrity of carbon markets and an educational article on practical strategies for improving national implementation of climate requirements.

Earthpace also contributed to the design, development, and editing of the Special Report, which explains the role of compliance and enforcement in ensuring effective implementation of domestic and international policies to mitigate climate change.

The Special Report on Climate Compliance is available at http://inece.org/climate/SpecialReportClimateCompliance.pdf.

International Network for Environmental Compliance and Enforcement
Earthpace developed, implemented and maintains the Web site for the International Network for Environmental Compliance and Enforcement (INECE). The site is designed to improve the network's capabilities for exchanging information and ideas over the Web. Earthpace is also responsible for regularly updating forums, regional events, and calendars; improving site listing on major search engines; and surveying organization members to better address user needs. Visit the INECE Web site at http://inece.org.

At the request of the Dutch, U.S., Japanese, and British environmental agencies, Earthpace (acting as a consultant to the INECE Secretariat) led an international initiative among regulators, business and international organizations to strengthen compliance, improve investor confidence, and ensure environmental integrity in the emissions trading systems. Earthpace facilitated a series of workshops to develop best practices for assuring compliance—including the use of information technology—for monitoring, reporting, and verification of emission reductions and carbon offset projects.

Earthpace spearheads the Environmental Compliance and Enforcement Indicators Initiative as a consultant to the INECE Secretariat. As part of this work, Earthpace helped INECE convene and manage an Expert Working Group on Environmental Compliance and Enforcement Indicators; supported the development of the Performance Measurement Guidance for Compliance and Enforcement Practitioners; and developed other publications on indicators theory and practice.

Earthpace supported the drafting of a two-day course on identifying, designing, and using performance indicators for compliance and enforcement programs. On behalf of INECE, Earthpace delivered the course in the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam; Central Europe; and Central America, and is planning future deliveries of the course in 2010.

Earthpace has researched the applicability of digital technologies including satellite remote sensing, geographic information systems, and the Internet to facilitating the environmental impact assessment process mandated by the National Environmental Policy Act. Earthpace delivered presentations on this topic to the ALI-ABA Course of Study on Environmental Impact Assessment in 2003 and 2001. Download Earthpace's presentation here.

Below are a sampling of Earthpace projects involving the development and use of web-based decision support tools:

Technical Assistance to the United Nations Compensation Commission

Earthpace provided technical assistance to the United Nations Compensation Commission (UNCC) to develop an information management system for the assessment of claims for environmental damage resulting from Iraq's aggression during the 1990 Gulf War. The report included analysis of potentially-applicable satellite remote sensing technologies, digital libraries, and other decision-making tools.

Earthpace has produced and number of short information briefs relating to the legal and environmental applications of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and satellite remote sensing data. Those briefs include:

•           Environmental Applications of Satellite Remote Sensing

Photograph courtesy of Flickr.

Earthpace provided technical assistance to a major international non-government organization regarding the development of policy options and advocacy opportunities to respond to the increasing threat to seabirds, human health and the environment posed by chronic oiling from land and marine-based sources. The analysis included impact on communities, natural resources, and the economy.