Kaiser Permanente Achieves Climate Action Lea...( LOS ANGELES Sept. 7 /- Kaiser Per...),Health

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Kaiser Permanente has successfully certified its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions inventory with the California Climate Action Registry, becoming the first health care organization to earn the distinction of Climate Action Leader(TM). Kaiser Permanente is now publicly and voluntarily reporting its 2006 GHG emissions under the rigorous Registry program.

"At Kaiser Permanente, paying attention to the organization's impact on the environment is another part of providing total health to our members," said Benjamin K. Chu, MD, president of Kaiser Permanente Southern California Region. "We want to provide care in a manner that protects and enhances the environment and health of our communities"

In addition to participating in the Registry's program, Kaiser Permanente has created greenhouse gas emissions programs of its own. According to Kaiser Permanente, the organization's Southern California trip-reduction program has resulted in annual avoidance of 15 million pounds of CO2 emissions by employees commuting to work. In its Northern California region, Kaiser estimates energy savings initiatives at 19 facilities have reduced total CO2 emissions by more than 2 million pounds so far this year, and are expecting to reduce CO2 emissions overall by the end of the year.

The Registry, created by the California legislature in 2000, is a non- profit public/private partnership that helps companies and organizations throughout the United States to track, publicly report, and reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. The results are certified by independent third parties to ensure accuracy and standardization across industry sectors. Organizations that are willing to meet the accounting standards and third party certification requirements of the Registry show their serious intent to address climate change. The Registry has been widely recognized as one of the world's most respected programs for voluntary public reporting of gree
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