Imagine embarking on your volunteering project for the good of conservation, animals, and the community, only to find out that while you were doing so, you were contributing to the negative impacts of climate change?
It is common knowledge that people, and as well as the corporate world, are responsible for emitting carbon into the atmosphere, yet the need to limit global warming to 1.5 or well below 2 degrees centigrade is paramount if we wish to avoid the worst impacts of climate change. More companies are committing to science-based targets for emissions reduction, but we all need to do our part as individuals.
So, what can we do about reducing our carbon emissions?
Have you heard of carbon offsetting programs? Of course, you have, but not all programs are effective at storing adequate carbon let alone protecting species and having positive social outcomes. Many programs do little to mitigate climate change or reduce current and past emissions. Even further, carbon offsetting can lead to “unintentional negative consequences and even more emissions”, according to Benjamin Sovacool at the University of Sussex.
So when O2E were selecting a carbon offset program to offset the emissions of our volunteers’ travel and our own carbon emitting activities, we wanted to support a program that helped reduce greenhouse gas emissions as well as provided a valuable opportunity for positive environmental change. Through effective engagement and partnership, O2E and Forever Wild work together to protect the Earth’s last wilderness. Purchasing and protecting land in trust to safeguard biological diversity & cultural heritage in perpetuity.
We operate O2E with this in mind. This means that our activities associated with running our charity organisation have no net negative impact on the climate.
How can volunteers reduce the equivalent of the CO2 emitted because of their travel?
We encourage everyone to reduce emissions where they can first; however, there are always unavoidable emissions (your carbon footprint). By understanding and accepting that you have a carbon footprint when you drive to the airport, fly to another country or even use your computer, and opting into the $5 carbon offset option (by ticking the box) when you make your O2E booking. This enables O2E to purchase more wilderness on your behalf. $5 equals 1 acre of land!
Want to know what effect your life’s activities have on carbon emission?
Use the calculator below by entering information on your energy consumption, travel, waste and fuel use. You can also see what you can do to reduce your effect. Simply visit www.carbonneutral.com.au/carbon-calculator.html
If you would like to negate your footprint even more, just email us and ask about more land credits.
