Aim for zero net carbon emissions

We use carbon neutral as shorthand for zero net impact on radiative climate forcing.

The GCP has launched a “zero net carbon emissions” initiative by which all its activities will be carbon neutral. It has set a goal to achieve carbon neutrality by the end of 2008.

Global Carbon Project: case study

The steps involved were:
(i) Identify boundaries for emission responsibility to set a baseline for reporting
(ii) identify opportunities for reductions and implementing them
(iii) choose a methodology to determine the resulting emissions
(iv) select verified offsets to neutralize an agreed amount of emissions.

It was estimated that in 2006 the GCP was responsible for a total of 361.9 tonnes of CO2-equivalents; 40.8 tCO2-e in building energy use and 321.1 tCO2-e in travel. This amount has been partitioned into core activities (130.3 tCO2-e), hosted workshops (227.4 tCO2-e) and endorsed workshops (4.2 tCO2-e). Travel accounted for 89 per cent of all GCP emissions.

The process was reviewed to inform GCP procedures to integrate carbon neutral practices into future proposals and budgets.

Global Carbon Project (2008) Carbon reductions and offsets C oulter L, Canadell JG, Dhakal S. Global Carbon Project Report No. 6, ESSP Report No. 5, Canberra.