ETS feel that it is an important part of our service to be able to provide our clients with all the necessary travel information they need to meet the environmental commitments of their Corporate Responsibility policies.
Utilising our tailored management information and partnership with climate care, from June 2007 we will be able to provide a comprehensive service to clients who wish to offset the carbon emissions created by their business travel.
Carbon offsetting is a tool increasingly used to reduce by businesses impact on the climate:

• Using Carbon offsetting within your business can have a range of benefits for you.
• Demonstrate your CSR credentials to clients, employees and other stakeholders
• To demonstrate continual improvement on your impact on the environment.
• To engage your employee in climate change and business impact.

We can also offset the rest.  Offsetting means paying someone to reduce CO2 in the atmosphere on your behalf.  In that way we can pay for the damage we are causing and the money helps to fund transition to a lower-carbon world.
Climate Care offsets your CO2 by funding projects around the world. These involve:

• Renewable energy – this replaces non-renewable fuel such as coal
• Energy efficiency – this reduces the amount of fuel needed
• Forest restoration – this absorbs CO2 from the atmosphere as the trees grow

So as well as taking steps to reduce your 'carbon footprint' you can offset what remains, helping to promote low-carbon technologies where they have the greatest impact.

HOW IS OFFSETTING MY CO2 GOING TO HELP REDUCE THE THREAT OF CLIMATE CHANGE?
Climate change is one of the most serious threats facing global society.  We all need to make every effort to reduce our emissions as much as we can; we should then offset the remainder.
Offsetting reduces climate change:

• By making real reductions in amounts of CO2 in the atmosphere which would not have happened without us.
• By providing funds for renewable technologies and efficient appliances

By raising awareness of the impact that our lifestyles have on the climate

HOW DO YOU CHOOSE WHICH PROJECTS TO FUND?
Our environmental partner has six years’ experience of sourcing projects and has developed a strong network of contacts around the world with which we can develop high quality CO2 offset projects with strong sustainable development credentials.

For example, Climate Care provides funding for the Ashden Awards for Sustainable Energy.  A consequence of this is that we have the opportunity to view a large range of projects which are applying for the Awards from around the world.  The prizes are awarded each year to innovative local sustainable energy schemes that both protect the environment, tackle climate change and make real improvements to people's quality of life. 

We are always interested in hearing about any potential projects. If you would like to know more about applying to Climate Care for project funds, please see the Developers page.

DO YOU USE TREE PLANTING TO OFFSET?
Planting trees as a form of carbon sequestration cannot be seen as a solution to climate change when taken in isolation.  Climate change needs to be addressed by reducing emissions through developing renewable fuel sources or boosting efficiency, rather than by focusing on sequestration.  We're excited about the potential for carbon offset money to provide funds to stimulate the development of these essential technologies. 

Nevertheless, approximately 20% of emissions each year are from deforestation and forest fires.  Therefore, over the medium term we are aiming to have 20% of our annual CO2 liabilities in reforestation.  In addition, reforestation is a relatively low risk project and allows us to balance risk in our portfolio.

We regularly review the scientific consensus on issues directly affecting our projects.

CAN WE PICK A PROJECT TO GIVE MONEY TO?
Climate Care uses your money in a pool to fund a portfolio of projects reducing CO2, rather than allocating it to one project. We have chosen this approach to ensure that we can best manage our CO2 reduction commitments, by balancing:
Cost: Some projects are more expensive per tonne of CO2 than others but may give 'higher quality' emissions reductions or wider benefits than other projects.
Risk: Some projects offer great rewards but carry a real risk of not going ahead or of not delivering as much emissions reductions as expected. The portfolio approach means that should this occur, we can still meet our obligation by putting more money into other projects.
If you are looking to offset a significant number of emissions, such as over 10,000 tonnes, we may be able to source you an exclusive project.

ARE YOU INVLOVED IN THE KYOTO PROTOCOL OR EU EMISSIONS TRADING SCHEME?
Under the Kyoto Protocol, developed countries have agreed to legally binding targets to reduce their overall emissions of greenhouse gases. The EU Emissions Trading Scheme is a mechanism set up to help the member states of the EU achieve these greenhouse gas emissions targets.
Climate Care makes greenhouse gas reductions for the voluntary market, which means that our offsets cannot be traded in the EU scheme or counted towards the Kyoto targets of member states.
WHY DO YOU NOT UNDERTAKE PROJECTS IN THE UK?
The UK government has a legally binding Kyoto target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. If we made CO2 reductions in the UK, these would be double-counted on behalf of you and also on behalf of the UK government towards their target. That means we'd only be helping to make reductions that had already been promised.
We are committed to an approach of reducing CO2 emissions beyond those that have already been promised across the world through the Kyoto Protocol. So by funding projects in developing countries without Kyoto targets we ensure that the CO2 emissions reductions that you buy go beyond current commitments.
I if you would like further advice on how ETS can consult your corporation on how to set up an offsetting scheme please contact:

Jonathan Harridge
j.harridge@etsworld.com

0870 755 0392