Offset your carbon footprint with Climatecare
Carbon Offsets explained
Each time we heat our homes, take a flight or drive the car, fossil fuels are burnt and CO2 is released into the atmosphere, causing climate change. We all need to take steps to reduce our CO2 emissions and there are many ways to reduce your carbon footprint: Check out Climatecare's special 'low carbon living' section to help you.
Take Action...
The Reduce and Offset Approach
For the greenhouse gases we cannot avoid emitting, you can buy carbon offsets. In our experience nearly every company and individual treats the offsets they buy as part of their ‘reduce and offset’ approach. The ‘myth of carbon indulgences’, as it has been named, is largely that – a myth.
Carbon offsetting enables you to take responsibility for the carbon emissions your activities create by paying someone to reduce CO2 in the atmosphere on your behalf. Have a look at some of the projects your money can fund through ClimateCare. Who should you buy from? It's important to understand what quality offsets are about. Read some independent research on what to look for in your carbon offset provider: the Clean Air, Cool Planet offset provider assessment.
What you'll receive
When you offset with Climatecare you'll get a ClimateCare certificate showing your emission reductions, as well as reduction tips to help you continue reducing where possible.
Making it easy for you...
Please note their price per tonne is still £7.50 though they now add VAT on top of this at the current UK rate.
After using the offsets calculator to work out how many tonnes of CO2 your activities produce, you can pay ClimateCare to reduce the equivalent amount of CO2 in another part of the world by investing that money into emission reduction projects. So when you buy a tonne of carbon from ClimateCare’s emission reduction portfolio, a tonne will be reduced through our projects. The money is used to replace fuel-hungry inefficient technologies with low carbon efficient technologies in developing countries. It’s a fantastic investment because not only does it reduce emissions, it helps spread the adoption of low carbon technologies (many of which are award-winning) and improves the quality of life for communities and individuals alike.
Why not take a look at some of their project technologies:
- Wind power
- Hydro power
- Renewable biomass
- Human energy
- Efficient stoves
You can also view their award-winning offset animation explaining how offsets work.
So as well as taking steps to reduce your carbon footprint you can offset what remains. Most environmental organisations and opinion-formers agree that carbon offsets have an important role to play in the fight against climate change, so long as they don’t replace action to reduce emissions at home.
“The debate has moved on to what kinds of carbon offsetting have credibility, and which fall into the ‘snake oil’ category. Those that have genuine integrity are now, actually, driving a massive cottage industry around the world, which is every day reducing CO2 emissions…” Al Gore.
To find out more visit www.climatecare.org
Examples of ClimateCare Projects
The ClimateCare website has the most up-to-date information about current projects http://www.climatecare.org/projects. ClimateCare always has a good mix of projects which aim to make emission reductions through a range of low carbon technologies around the world.
Below are some examples of projects:
| Clean stoves in Uganda
The Uganda Stoves Project supplies efficient wood burning stoves to institutions such as schools in Uganda. As well as reducing greenhouse gases produced from cooking, the stoves reduce the amount of wood fuel needed, helping to reduce deforestation. Cooks also experience the benefits of reduced indoor pollution since the stoves are less smoky.
Sarah Nakabuyo Naloongo is a cook at Kibuye Primary School in Kampala – where the new improved wood stoves were installed in Autumn 2007. She told us how the new stoves had improved her life because the kitchen is now smoke free and the food is easier to cook.
“Beforehand, we cooked the food on an open fire using stone stands and the room would be black with smoke. The new stoves have improved my life because I no longer have to work in a dirty environment. The new stoves are taller too which means that I don’t have to crouch down and damage my back.” |
| Wind Power in China
China is developing rapidly with increasing demand for power, most of which is generated from coal. The Mulan wind project is located in Heilongjiang - the northern-most province of China. The wind farm generates approximately 25 GWh of electricity each year, reducing emissions by reducing the amount of electricity that would have been generated by conventional fossil fuels such as coal or gas. Alongside reducing the need for fossil fuels, the wind farm provides local employment and has contributed to the stimulation of the wind power sector in China. | |
