As you might know, I'm member of the environmental advisory body in my town. This is a rather active advisory board with 9 regular and 3 special meetings (board meetings excluded) in 2007. It shouldn't be the intention of an advisory board to put an extra burden on something we want to protect by meeting. Therefore, I suggested that we should do some CO2 compensation for our meetings. I a first phase, we make our gatherings CO2 neutral but the major goal is to become conscious what effect the board has on the environment and to adapt ourself. Prevention is better than cure. By doing this we can set a good example to the town inhabitants and council. My quest for a compensation fund resulted in an initiative called CompenCO2. The reasons for choosing this project are:
a “Well-to wheel” approach
it sees compensation as the last step. Preventions of emissions is the objective
the initiatives support two types of projects:
Mitigation by supporting of eco-friendly projects
Adaptation by supporting agriculture, silviculture and nature projecting in order to stem the tide of climate change
transparent methods of calculation, information on supported projects and flow of money
it gives priority to African partners, since they're usually eliminated by traditional emission traders
it's the first and only initiative of Belgian non governmental organisations without commercial aims. Only 10% of the funding goes to administration, the remaining goes entirely to the projects.
Some examples of the supported projects are:
Mitigation:
Wind energy project in Maharashtra, India CompenCO2 placed an purchase order for Gold Standard VER-certificates with an equivalent of 250 ton CO2 for a wind turbine project in Maharashtra – India. The installation at two places in the Dhule district concerns 10 megawatt of energy which isn't available now or generated via fossil fuel
Adaptation:
Burji region, Ethiopia (under investigation) Durable forestry, reafforestation, rational energy consumption, renewable energy
Kalahandi district, India (under investigation) small-scale hydroelectric plant, actions against erosion
Program in Kenia Promotion of the Jatropha, an oleiferous plant to stop desertification; It can also be used as bio fuel or for making soap
In a next blog, I'll elaborate on the actual calculation of CO2 compensation.