| Carbon Neutral |
What is Carbon Neutral?- our expeditions have a neutral effect on the amount of Greenhouse gas in the atmosphere.
What we generate we will take out!
How do we do it?We will use an audit tool to predict the greenhouse gas emissions that will occur during our expedition (including the flights to get there and back again). We will then sequester the equivalent of those emissions— eg by buying carbon offset credits. The offsets will go towards tree planting and the trees will absorb carbon as they grow. Those trees will be indigenous to the area they are planted, chosen and located to support biodiversity and the water cycle, decrease salinity and generally complement the surrounding ecosystem. We will be doing what we can to reduce our emissions in the first place by minimising fuel use, reducing use of packaging, choosing low emission production of gear where possible and so on.
We are not experts on climate – our knowledge comes from reading reports and books, talking to people with expertise and noticing the changing conditions around us. We hope that our example will inspire others to take responsibility for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. We expect to learn from people as well – if you have comments, stories, examples or good ideas you are welcome to contribute them - contact us.
Greenhouse GasesCarbon dioxide is one of a number of gases that are in our atmosphere and act as Greenhouse Gases. Carbon dioxide is a gas that is emitted in large quantities, in particular from processes used in our industrialised society. Methane is another and is more commonly emitted by animals and vegetation. The melting of hoar frost in The level of Greenhouse gases in the atmosphere is becoming a problem. The most effective response is to stop doing things that cause emissions – walk or ride a bike instead of drive, use solar energy instead of coal powered energy, reduce the amount of energy used for heating a home by blocking drafts, increasing insulation and putting on a jumper, turn off lights that are not being used and buy fresh food in season rather than food that has been packaged and transported.
Our emission levelsAn expedition offers fewer options for reducing greenhouse gas emissions than our ordinary every day lives do. An expedition utilises very high emission transport (chartered planes and helicopters) to aid access and then generates very low emissions while we haul our sleds across the ice. We have embedded energy in our clothing, freeze dried food, sleds, tent and other gear - but our pile of gear is small in quantity compared to the contents of even a humble home. We only have one set of clothes each (and one change of underwear!). Our small camp stoves generates low levels of greenhouse gases. On our expedition we will be doing what we can to reduce our emissions firstly by minimising fuel use, reducing use of packaging and choosing low emission production of gear where possible. In addition to minimising emissions on the expedition we minimise at home. For example: using an electric bike instead of a car, installing solar panels, reaching for a jumper before putting on the heater, using the train to get to Melbourne. Just doing what we can! Carbon Neutral thinking
For further information about climate change and actions you can take individually or as a member of a climate action group check out: Live Ecological ( check out the weblinks) Bendigo Sustainability Group (one of a number of climate action groups) Copenhagen Diagnosis (very recent climate facts) Green House Gas Calculator (useful emissions calculator) 350 parts per million - explanation (explains carbon dioxide concentration levels and why 350 parts per million is desirable) Climate Change in GreenlandIce Sheets ThinningThe vast ice sheet covering Kalallit Nunaat (Greenland) is thinning by up to a metre a year. Between 1993 and 1998 aerial surveyors from NASA found through laser altimeter technology that the ice sheet had lost an average of five metres in thickness. |
