CO2 Solidaire

"CO2solidaire" to offset its GHG emissions

Transforming the greenhouse gas emissions generated by its transport (plane, car or domestic activity) into donations for development programs in developing countries, this is the idea proposed by the site CO2solidaire.org. An awareness-raising and empowerment project aimed at individuals and companies, aimed at learning how to measure its environmental impacts.

15 euros for a Rome-Dublin return flight, 1 euro for a Paris-Marseille return flight by diesel car and 6 euros by plane… This is not a new tax on transport but a financial estimate the “cost” of CO2 emissions due to each of these trips.

Since October 2004, the CO2solidaire.org site has offered voluntary compensation for the impact due to transport or domestic activity by financing development projects in developing countries. The average estimate is provided by the France Climate Action Network. These sums, explains the founders of the site, “include an environmental cost and a weight in terms of human development: it makes it possible to support actions of cooperation and solidarity in the countries of the South, to improve the daily life of local populations and preserve the environment. 'environment. The idea is inspired by a recommendation of the Kyoto Protocol (from which air transport is excluded!) Which recommends the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) encouraging the signatory industrialized countries to invest in gas reduction projects. greenhouse effect in developing countries (non-signatories to the protocol).

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Help the South not to repeat the mistakes of the North

At the origin of this site, intended for companies as well as individuals, is the GERES (Renewable Energies Group, Environment and Solidarity), which, for 25 years, has participated, with actors of economic and local development, in initiatives in the field of the environment, energy and agro-food. The projects supported by CO2solidaire.org previously existed: saving wood energy in Cambodia, energy management in Morocco, rural development in Ladakh (Himalayas) through the use of solar energy, passive solar architecture in Afghanistan. It seemed logical to them to propose this new source of funding. "We want to promote a development model that is" cleaner "in the South, explains Salima Badi. It was therefore interesting to raise awareness among the inhabitants of the North on the subject, by teaching them the value of the impact of their daily actions". Furthermore, as the supporters of sustainable development constantly demonstrate, if the countries of the South choose a development method that is more protective of the environment, the entire planet will benefit.

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Empower without guilt

The site offers a lot of information to raise awareness of reducing its ecological impacts through empowerment and solidarity, without guilt. Example taken from the site: “We can estimate that a round trip Paris-Athens with a distance of 4200 km is equivalent to an emission of 0,67 tonnes of CO2 per person. The amount of compensation for this journey is 17 €. In Cambodia, € 17 is the cost of 4 improved stoves whose operation saves 2,66 tonnes of wood and 3,78 tonnes of CO2 each year. " 
Six months after its launch, only ten private individuals have contributed to these projects, which are supported by two tour operator companies. But those responsible for the site know that it takes time to install these types of practices. Similar initiatives, launched in other countries, have been very successful. This is the case in England with Climate care, and in Switzerland with Myclimate or even in Germany with Atmosfair.

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Visit estate site www.co2solidaire.org

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