Wine trade groups from California, New Zealand, South Africa and Australia have joined forces to develop the International Wine Industry Greenhouse Gas Accounting Protocol. The wine industry's goal is to review its own environmental impact. The Accounting Protocol will include a calculator to help wineries examine their emissions regardless of their size. "The International Wine Industry Greenhouse Gas Accounting Protocol is a natural complement to the California wine industry's commitment to environmental stewardship and leadership in sustainable wine growing," said Robert Koch, president and CEO of the Wine Institute of California. "Our wineries, the majority of which are family owned, believe that tools such as this are important to the long-term viability and health of their businesses."

The International Wine Industry Greenhouse Gas Accounting Protocol will focus on three phases of emissions in the life cycle of wine. The first is direct emissions that companies can control such as fuel consumption. The second is indirect emissions such as buying electricity. The third includes indirect emissions from the supply chain such as the use of fertilizers or packaging materials.

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