Those of us who've been thinking about this issue for a long time and those
of us who operate tourism ventures which we try to make as environmentally
as we possibly can, have had the opportunity to research and think about the
issues in depth. With this behind us, we realise that offsetting emissions
is certainly not the solution.
HOWEVER, it provides a simple and immediately understandable way for our
guests to begin first thoughts on the subject. Their typical reaction is to
contribute to the local project we support which is to reafforest Greece's
mountainsides following forest fires. It is also typical that the next day
we are involved in long conversations about true solutions to climate change
caused by flight emissions................Offsetting emissions is, in my
opinion, part of raising awareness, and so at our establishment we will
continue to initiate serious thinking and discussion using it as an
introduction.
Marilyn Raftopulos
Levendis Estate
Aphales Bay
Ithaca, Greece
Ph: +30 6944 169 770
E: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
W: www.levendisestate.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "Brian T Mullis" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <green-travel@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Friday, April 15, 2005 7:47 PM
Subject: [green-travel] Follow-up re: MyClimate
Carbon offsetting is one first step to travel "green" - if done correctly.
Our Switzerland-based organisation myclimate (www.myclimate.org/en) offers
greenhouse gases offsetting. We also provide the offsets for Sustainable
Travel International (www.my-climate.com).
Our projects meet the following criteria:
- no tree planting
- only projects in the field of energy efficiency and renewable energy
- Projects must be developed according to the WWF Gold Standard
- all projects MUST have additional benefits for he population (e.g.
creating jobs)
- a minimum of 80% of our funds are directed to the projects
- all projects are independently certified (either through the Kyoto
mechanisms or through an expert panel at the Swiss Federal Institute of
Technology
An example of one of our projects: In Eritrea, we support a local company,
which produces solar water heating systems. They are installed on schools
and hospitals, where people no longer have to heat their water with
unsustainable and climate-unfriendly kerosene heaters.
Offsetting emissions is not a solution - but it is a first step. Did you
know that one single person travelling from London to an Eco-Lodge in,
say,
Brazil uses up more than 1000 litres of fuel and emits 3.5 tons of
CO2-equivalents? This is four times more than what an average Brazilian
emits during a whole year!
By offsetting emissions, travellers have the opportunity to take on
responsibility for the severe damage they cause to our climate. It is at
the
moment the only option to travel "green", unless you decide to travel by
boat or train or simply to stay at home.
Find out more about myclimate, watch the CNN report, learn how serious a
challenge air traffic is to our climate, and get to know our high-quality
carbon offset projects in India, Columbia, Eritrea, South Africa and the
Indian Himalaya.
It's all on our website www.myclimate.org/en.
With climate-friendly regards
Renat Heuberger
Managing Director myclimate
Bluntschlisteig 1, P.O. Box
CH-8027 Zürich, Switzerland
p. +41 1 281 22 20
f. +41 1 281 22 44
m. +41 79 549 39 51
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
www.myclimate.org
Visit the website of the first UNEP carbon neutral summit:
www.unep.org/dpdl/civil_society/GCSF/carbon-neutral.asp
http://www.lulu.com/mendicott
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