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Carbon Neutral e-news
November 2009
In this issue
>> Final message from CEO Leo Kerr
>> Carbon Neutral exhibits at the Carbon Markets Expo 2009
>> ABN Group leads the way in carbon management
>> Planting news from our SA partner Trees For Life
>> Planting news from Victoria
>> Biodiversity and Climate Change Report
>> With Carbon Neutral e-cards and gift certificates YOU CAN HELP THE ENVIRONMENT!
>> Bioenergy Australia 2009 Conference
>> Living Greener government website
>> Manure major driver behind nitrous oxide levels
>> Walk Against Warming 2009 – December 12th
>> Men of the Trees Seminar – Trees & Life
>> Follow Carbon Neutral on Facebook
>> Is your way of life worse for the environment?
>> Verified Emissions Reduction Units
>> Easy ways to support Carbon Neutral
>> Climate Action Network
>> Green Loans
>> Things you can do at home to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
Final message from CEO Leo Kerr
This will be the last e-newsletter with me at the helm of Carbon Neutral. My journey with CN began in 2001 when with Tim Lawrence, current president of Men of the Trees, and Barrie Oldfield, past president of Men of the Trees, we dreamed the Carbon Neutral program into existence in an unassuming Northbridge eatery.
From this seed of an idea CN has grown to become one of the nation’s leading organisations in the area of bio sequestration having planted millions of trees and been awarded a number of environmental accolades.
As a not for profit, the past year has been a difficult one with the degree of uncertainty surrounding the world’s economic systems. Carbon Neutral has however weathered the global financial crisis well and planted over half a million trees during the 2009 planting season. Despite the difficulties we managed to get our first Victorian plantings underway and now operate in WA, SA and Victoria.
With an emphasis on mixed native species, CN addresses a range of environmental issues besides carbon sequestration. The trees we plant help in stabilising soil and preventing erosion, they help arrest further encroachment of salinity, provide habitat to flora and fauna, cleanse water systems and provide a range of environmental services that are essential to a sustainable future.
The people at CN are a professional, passionate and positive group, conscious of the huge environmental challenges facing us as a species and taking practical measures to help address these. It has been my privilege and pleasure to be involved in the creation and development of Carbon Neutral as an organisation and to work with such an outstanding team. It has also been extremely gratifying to know that so many individuals and organisations within our community support our efforts.
Carbon Neutral will continue its journey, will continue to do the good work, the essential work. It is my hope that Carbon Neutral will also continue, by example, to inspire others in the community to take up its vision and share its dreams.
Carbon Neutral at the 2009 Carbon Markets Expo on Gold Coast
The Expo is Australasia’s premier Trade Fair & Conference for carbon market participants & service providers and Carbon Neutral was on hand to meet with market participants and display our capabilities as a quality biodiversity planting and offset partner as well as a provider of carbon auditing, reduction and management programmes.
Of particular interest were plenary sessions and workshops on removing legacy emissions from the atmosphere through biosequestration, business action on climate change, energy efficiency, the voluntary market and the CPRS.
The chance to position Carbon Neutral as a provider of high quality biodiversity carbon sinks and strategic carbon management programmes in a national context was exciting and is a crucial part of our brand building.
Videos and photos from the Expo are available here >
ABN Group leads the way in carbon management
All fourteen companies within the ABN Group were recently audited by Carbon Neutral as the first step to towards offsetting carbon emissions.
Read more here >
Planting news from our SA partner Trees For Life
Planting on eight sites in SA was supported by very good rains across much of the state this year. The majority of our carbon plantings in SA are done by direct seeding but some of the steeper sites are planted using tubestock or by hand direct seeding. School students have been enthusiastic helpers at our Gladstone and Monarto sites and a small group of Trees For Life volunteers has helped with seed collection, seed processing and hand direct seeding. With subscribers funding the plantings, and landholders hosting them, each Carbon Neutral site reflects a real community effort to contribute to the rehabilitation of the environment.
Planting news from Victoria
Planting at Maude where alternate plants are guarded to test the need for guarding fully in this locality. Three months on there was no need to extend the guarding.
Our first Victorian site has been successfully established with a mix of understorey and tree species. The team of planters manually planted the seedlings using potti putkis and finished planting the seedlings in July. The seedlings were planted deep with a minimum of 2cm of soil above the root ball. Species used were local indigenous species, primarily of local provenance, and Sugar Gum, a proven performer.
The site is a gentle, northerly sloping section of a peneplain around 200m above sea level and about 20km from the coast. It has been cropped and grazed by horses and ostriches at different times, and has suffered from some wind erosion. In the 1980’s and 90’s shelter belts of one or two row belts were planted. Carbon Neutral anticipates that this planting will establish well and provide significant benefits both in terms of carbon sequestration and land care.
Biodiversity and Climate Change Report
The Australian Government has released a report titled, ‘Australia’s Biodiversity and Climate Change: a strategic assessment of the vulnerability of Australia’s biodiversity to climate change’. The report provides compelling evidence of the need to protect Australia’s natural environment for future generations, from climate change and other environmental stresses.
Click here to view the report
With Carbon Neutral ecards and gift certificates YOU CAN HELP THE ENVIRONMENT!
Purchasing Carbon Neutral ecards is a great way that your organisation can help to reduce the demand on paper this Christmas. This year in Australia approximately 100 million (Australia Post) Christmas cards will be sent around the country inflicting a heavy toll on the environment.
Trees are cut down and energy is used to produce cards and envelopes with the vast majority ending up in landfill. Paper production is also water-intensive with the production cycle and delivery leading to greenhouse gas emissions.
By choosing to partner with Carbon Neutral and sending ecards (organisations) or gift certificates (suitable for individuals and organisations) this year you can demonstrate your commitment to the environment by reducing the use of natural resources and helping to plant more trees.
Be kind to the environment this Christmas and New Year and send a Carbon Neutral ecard or Gift Certificate and help us plant more trees.
Click here for ECARD and GIFT CERTIFICATE SAMPLES & order options
Bioenergy Australia 2009 Conference
Bioenergy Australia is hosting their annual Bioenergy Conference this December on the Gold Coast from 8-10 Dec. On the 8th there will be an optional technical tour to biomass and bioenergy facilities. The program has a large emphasis on biomass feed stocks.
Click here for full programme and registration details
Living Greener government website
The Australian Government has a website called Living Greener which has facts about energy, water, waste and transport and how to ‘live greener’ in all of these areas.
Click here to see it
Manure major driver behind nitrous oxide levels
A recent study has found manure is a major driver behind a rise in atmospheric nitrous oxide levels since the beginning of last century. The research, published in Nature Geoscience, adds to the growing debate over how best to estimate the increase in human-induced nitrous oxide (N2O) levels since the industrial revolution.
Click here for online article
Walk Against Warming 2009 – December 12th
Walk Against Warming is Australia’s largest day of community action on climate change. This year, Walk Against Warming will take place in locations across Australia to coincide with the midpoint of the Copenhagen Climate Summit and the International Day of Action on Climate Change. Due to the timing of this year’s walk, your participation and support of the event is crucial. Join thousands of fellow Australians on this day of action which promises to be filled with music, fun & information. The WAW website will be updated regularly confirming the location and start time of each walk.
To find out about Walk Against Warming in your state click here
Men of the Trees Seminar – Trees & Life
This free all day seminar focuses on the importance of trees and encourages participants to think about how we can protect them. A diverse panel will talk about their experiences with trees and Great Gardens and Heavenly Hectares will provide some gardening tips.
Click here to see the flyer
Follow Carbon Neutral on Facebook
Become a fan of Carbon Neutral’s page to keep up to date on environmental news, view photos & videos, and help spread the word.
Click on the above image to view our page.
Is your way of life worse for the environment?
Watch this 30 second video below to find out if your way of life is worse for the environment.
Watch this 30 second video to find out more >
Verified Emissions Reduction Units
When you make a donation to Carbon Neutral to offset your emissions the money can be used to plant trees or to purchase Greenhouse Friendly Verified Emissions Reduction Units (VER’s).
VERs can be used for immediate offset and are created from officially approved projects such as avoided landfill. One VER equals one tonne of CO2e that is already offset. Carbon Neutral will also plant 2 trees for each VER purchased. Clients can donate to Carbon Neutral and the appropriate number of VERs will be acquitted on their behalf (which means that they cannot be resold). 1 VER may be acquitted with a donation of $19.00.
For further information on our offsetting options from our Product Guide click here
Easy ways to support Carbon Neutral
You can now support Carbon Neutral’s important work by having recurring payments deducted from your credit card or bank account.
Click here to print the Periodical Payment Form
Climate Action Network
The Conservation Council is hosting this new meeting so people can meet others wishing to work on climate change issues and to share skills and experience to take back into their communities for localized campaigns. You will learn from experts about successful community organising campaigns, how to have effective climate change conversations and engage everyday Australians, gain practical skills in organizing and lobbying, network, share strategies and plan for your campaign with assistance and guidance.
Contact Elize – wo@conservationwa.asn.au / 9420 7266, for further information.
Green Loans
The Australian Government Green Loans Program provides Home Sustainability Assessments and access to interest free Green Loans of up to $10,000.
For further information click here
Things you can do at home to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
Click here to view our Things You Can Do document
Carbon Neutral Ltd – a not for profit organisation
Ph: 1300 851 211
Email: contact@carbonneutral.com.au – Website: www.carbonneutral.com.au
ABN 99 124 696 966