Caring for our Climate
Added to website: 27 March 2006
Coral Cay Conservation (CCC), the British coral reef conservation group, has joined forces with Climate Care to offset Volunteer flight carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.
Carbon dioxide is the main greenhouse gas that causes climate change. Each time we turn on the TV, switch on the cooker, drive the car or take a flight, CO2 is added into the atmosphere. Scientific research indicates that we may experience more intense and frequent extreme weather events as a result of climate change. A gradual increase in temperature will also have major implications for ecosystems, including coral reefs and the local communities that depend on them (for further details visit Defra’s newly launched climate change communications initiative - www.climatechallenge.gov.uk).
Established in 1998 Climate Care is a global initiative to tackle climate change by reducing greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. They achieve this objective by operating a portfolio of carbon offset projects. These projects include renewable energy in schools in India, fuel efficient stoves in Honduras and restoring rainforests in Uganda. As well as reducing CO2, the projects also have wider benefits for the communities and local environments in which they work. For example in Honduras, fuel efficient cooking stoves are made available to some of the poorest communities. As well as cutting CO2, this supports conservation by reducing the wood needed for cooking. It also benefits the householders by removing smoke from the kitchen and so dramatically cutting health risks.
Coral Cay Conservation is encouraging its volunteers to use Climate Care to calculate their expedition flight emissions and offset an equivalent amount of CO2 emissions. Volunteers can find out more about by Climate Care and how to make their contribution by visiting www.climatecare.org
