Sustainable travel for people, communities and the environment

 

Sustainable business travel continues to be a hot topic for many businesses and travel programme managers around the globe. Carbon offset programmes are an increasingly important component of any successful business travel programme, enabling businesses to positively influence sustainability outcomes for individuals, communities and the environment.

But what real-life outcomes do carbon offset programmes have, and what difference can your contribution make?

We take a look at some of the outcomes achieved in a typical year through the sustainability projects managed by Corporate Travel Management’s (CTM’s) sustainability partner, South Pole. These projects, and others, can be supported through CTM’s Climate+ programme.

Sustainability Projects Reviewed

Envira Amazonia Tropical Forest Conservation, Brazil

The Envira project in Brazil’s Amazon basin protects 39,300 ha of tropical forest from logging and encroaching cattle ranches. This simultaneously preserves the area’s rich biodiversity and mitigates the release of over 1 million tCO2e on average each year. The project also fosters economic opportunities for local communities through sustainable farming, promotes environmental stewardship and provides health services and educational courses.

• 1,259,000 tCO2e reduced on average every year, equivalent to 189,003 flights around the circumference of the world (economy class, one passenger)
• 39,300 ha tropical rainforest protected from deforestation
• Health centre and dental clinic built for the local community

Energy Efficient Cookstoves Project, Ethiopia

Many rural families in Ethiopia traditionally cook on open fires that require large amounts of fuel and produce thick smoke. Introducing fuel-efficient cookstoves to communities improves livelihoods by reducing smoke-related respiratory diseases, and cutting emissions, cooking time and wood fuel collection costs. The project also develops a sustainable local industry for producing the cookstoves, providing jobs and boosting the local economy.

• 46,000 tCO2e reduced on average every year, equivalent to 6,906 flights around the circumference of the world (economy class, one passenger)
• 94,000 high-efficiency cookstoves distributed to rural households
• 1.11 tonnes of wood saved per cookstove per year
• Improved health outcomes – reduced risk of respiratory disease
• Empowering women – less time collecting wood fuel, women have more time to work or spend with their families

 

The Crow Lake Wind Project, USA

Spanning 36,000 acres in South Dakota, this wind power project is a product of innovative community collaboration harnesses the wind to power homes with clean electricity, displacing energy generated from fossil fuel power plants. The Crow Lake project comprises 108 1.5MW wind turbines which, at full capacity, can serve around 129,000 homes with clean, renewable energy.

• 432,000 tCO2e reduced on average every year, equivalent to 64,853 flights around the circumference of the world (economy class, one passenger)
• 513,000 MWh of clean, renewable energy generated on average per year

Isangi Forest Conservation, Democratic Republic of Congo

At the confluence of the Congo and Lomami Rivers towards the north of the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Isangi project protects over 187,000 hectares of one of Earth’s most biodiverse rainforests from deforestation. The project helps to alleviate local poverty by promoting sustainable economic opportunities and developing educational initiatives to bring a brighter future to remote communities.

• 324,534 tCO2e reduced on average every year, equivalent to 48,720 flights around the circumference of the world (economy class, one passenger)
• 3 schools built in the project area
• 397 jobs created

 

The Belen Wind Project, Turkey

Sitting on top of three hills in Halilb District, the Belen Wind Project is an important investment in Turkey’s clean, secure and sustainable energy future. The wind farm contributes to the growth of the Turkish renewables sector, helps drive down its greenhouse gas emissions, creates local jobs, and fuels sustainable development.

• 74,000 tCO2e reduced on average every year, equivalent to 11,109 flights around the circumference of the world (economy class, one passenger)
• 13 permanent jobs created

 

Siam Cement Group Project, Thailand

This project funds a range of social and environmental programmes including health clinics to service the neighbouring communities, over 65,000 check dams for upstream forest conservation, school scholarships, mobile health clinics and the development of small-scale local industries. Farmers also now profit from a supplementary income and additional jobs have been created thanks to the project’s efficient supply chains and manufacturing processes for biomass fuels.

• 610,000 tCO2e reduced on average every year, equivalent to 91,574 flights around the circumference of the world (economy class, one passenger)

 

Prony Wind Power, New Caledonia

Small island nations like New Caledonia are often described as ‘the canary in the coal mine’ of climate change, with many already experiencing the impact of rising tides and damaging storms. The Prony Wind Power project consists of 116 wind turbines using world-class technology to provide New Caledonia with sustainable energy to combat climate change whilst also addressing various social issues by creating employment and training.

• 36,621 tCO2e reduced on average every year, equivalent to 5,498 flights around the circumference of the world (economy class, one passenger)
• 26 jobs created, most filled by island nationals

 

InfraVest Tongyuan Wind Farm, Taiwan

The project harnesses the prevailing coastal winds of northwestern Taiwan using 29 wind turbines, each with a capacity of 2.3MW and a total capacity of 66.7 MW, across 5 different wind farms. The project reduces greenhouse gas emissions in Taiwan by displacing fossil fuel-based power generation.

• 107,500 tCO2e reduced on average every year, equivalent to 16,138 flights around the circumference of the world (economy class, one passenger)
• 45 jobs created