Climate Care - funding sustainable energy projects

When carbon offsets began, tree planting was the main chosen method to offset emissions. These days, best practise in carbon offsetting is generally considered to be investing in sustainable energy projects that cut emissions in the first place –such as renewable energy and energy efficiency.                                                     

By paying for the carbon saved by technologies like efficient lightbulbs and wind energy etc, carbon offsetting helps to green the global economy.

The money from carbon offsets is starting to drive the promotion of clean technology around the world, with especially exciting work being done to promote ‘appropriate technologies’ such as efficient cooking stoves, long recognised as crucial for improving quality of life and now finally, through the carbon market, starting to access the significant capital needed to make them available to millions.

Standards such as the Gold Standard (VERs) are ensuring that funding goes to real, verified carbon savings.

Climate Care was the first carbon offset organisation in the UK to focus on sustainable energy projects rather than forestry. Currently 80% of their carbon reductions in our online portfolio are made in sustainable energy projects. They still make 20% of our CO2 reductions through a forest restoration project. This is because globally, around 20% of greenhouse gas emissions are through deforestation or forest fires.

It is crucial to find a way to fund the protection of the worlds forests, but there is still a lot of debate around the right mechanisms to do this.

Thanks to Bettina Koller of Climate Care.
Visit: www.climatecare.org

Paragon recommend carbon offsetting for events as part of a sustainable event management process and work closely with Climate Care.