Twelve people in China have taken a new step in going green with
the purchase of carbon credits - in which they offset their carbon
emissions by funding projects to improve the environment.
The 12 have neutralized a range of different emissions,
including domestic electricity, car and flight emissions, Blair
Palese, the communications manager of Climate Friendly, one of the
four sales organizations recommended by the World Wildlife Fund,
told China Daily.
Carine Saror in Shanghai said that she had purchased carbon
credits for her four latest flights because she thought it was
important to improve the environment.
"I am very careful in saving energy and avoiding emissions in my
everyday life," she said.
"I don't leave appliances on standby and I don't have a car. But
I can't avoid traveling, which probably emits the most carbon of
all."
Rui Chenggang, an anchorman for China Central Television, has
paid AU$ 57.08 (US$51) for his annual car emissions. He said that
he purchased the credit on August 8, one year before the opening of
the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, as a gift to the event. Rui paid
based on his car's annual mileage and its engine capacity.
"I am also planning to buy credits for my flights as well as
emissions from using my air conditioner," Rui said.
Yue Qun, a professor at East China Normal University, said that
this behavior is a welcome and environmentally friendly gesture.
"But it is difficult to calculate the amount of CO2 we emit every
day," he said.
"As far as I know, there are more companies doing this than
individuals."
Palese from Climate Friendly said that they have many corporate
purchasers, and the number of Chinese firms taking part is
increasing. "One of the companies we work with is Via Technologies,
based in Taipei, a major chip manufacturer, which neutralized
emissions for two of the company's new chips through us," she
said.
"We have two additional new Chinese business customers coming on
line soon."
Palese said that the price to neutralize carbon with their
organization is AU$22 (US$19.7) per ton. "We use the money to
invest in renewable energy projects because we believe this is the
most effective way to reduce global emissions, encourage the rapid
transition to cleaner energy, and reduce pollution from energy
sources such as coal," she said.
"Many of our projects have additional community benefits
including energy stability, employment opportunities and
occasionally tourism opportunities."
(China Daily October 20, 2007)
