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Carbon offsetting initiative |
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| The Major Groups and Stakeholders Branch is investing the equivalent 'carbon costs' of the emissions from the travel of the sponsored participants into a local project. Have you also thought of offsetting your flight emissions from coming to Nairobi? If you and your delegation have not arranged for it yet, you still have the opportunity to do so by supporting a local project in Nairobi. Climate change is one of the most challenging issues in our globalized world. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is the responsibility of all of us. However, a complete reduction in emissions is not always possible. The idea behind the concept of carbon offsetting is to pay a surcharge on air travel equal to the amount of CO2 emitted and to invest these funds in carbon reduction projects, including renewable energy in developing countries. The Step-by-Step (SBS) team (a group of UN staff members voluntarily engaging in the implementation of an environmental policy on the UN-compound in Nairobi) in collaboration with UNEP launched a carbon offsetting initiative during the Conference on Climate Change in November 2006, with the long-term objective to cover all future UN meetings in Nairobi. Based on the monetary 'carbon cost', participants make voluntary contributions to partially offset their emissions and contribute to the Millennium Development Goals through an investment for a bio-latrine in a Nairobi community. The bio-latrine project is a simple and sustainable initiative combining the benefits of waste management, the solution of sanitation problems, the generation of natural fertilizer, and the reduction of the pressure on fuel wood or charcoal through substitution with the generated biogas for daily cooking of school food and hence contributes to the mitigation of climate change. The Major Groups and Stakeholders Branch (UNEP Department for Regional Cooperation) is investing the monetary 'carbon cost' of the travel emissions of the sponsored participants into this project. If you are not assigned to an emission-offsetting program yet, but wish to partially offset your flight emissions for attending the UNEP GCSF through a donation for the Nairobi bio-latrine project, please come to the carbon neutral booth pn Monday 5th of February where we can directly calculate your flight emissions. You can either make a direct cash deposit at the booth for which we provide you with a certificate or provide us with your contact details and the amount you would like to contribute. Should you have further questions, please contact: stepbystep@unep.org. | |||
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