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Carbon Neutral e-news
December 2009
 
 
                       
In this issue
>> Carbon Neutral in words!
>> A guide to climate change and the CPRS/ETS
>> Offsetting emissions is about more than just reducing carbon
>> United Nations Climate Change Conference Dec 7 – 18
>> Buildings to get energy efficiency rating similar to home appliances
>> Understanding Carbon seminar Melbourne/Sydney 2010
>> Planting news
>> Camp for Climate Action 2009
>> Carbon Offsetting – why it means business
>> Vulnerable countries urge world to cut emissions
>> Human emissions rise 2% despite global financial crisis
>> Purchase Carbon Neutral ecards and gift certificates this Christmas and support our environment!
>> Extremes back climate expert’s warnings
>> Bioenergy Australia 2009 Conference
>> Government energy efficiency subsidies for the home
>> Green Loans
>> Living Greener government website
>> Walk Against Warming 2009 – December 12th
>> Follow Carbon Neutral on Facebook
>> VIDEO: What’s Carbon Neutral really all about?
>> Accredited carbon offsets
>> Easy ways to support Carbon Neutral
>> Things you can do at home to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
>> Electric vehicle special event
 
Carbon Neutral in words!
 
 
 
A Guide to Climate Change and the CPRS/ETS What’s it all about? What’s the science? What does it mean to businesses, households and individuals?
From smh.com.au: Climate change, the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme, Copenhagen and the Coalition. It’s been a few weeks of Cs in Canberra.But what is the CPRS about? What is the science that underpins the necessity for such an action? Why does Australia need a carbon trading deal in place before going to the global climate summit in Denmark? Should we care about what happens in some wintry Scandinavian capital far away from sunny Sydney?
This excellent article from the Sydney Morning Herald breaks down the details and makes sense of some complex issues. Read it online here
 
 Offsetting emissions is about more than just reducing carbon
In this article published in the Conservation Council WA’s The Greener Times (Spring 09) Carbon Neutral’s Business Development Manager Chris Doherty argues that not enough is being done to integrate carbon market policy with other environmental outcomes.  While the climate outcomes are valuable, social and environmental factors must also be considered. The opportunity to intertwine funding for urgently needed carbon reduction activities with previously identified priorities for conservation development, for example, is one that must not be missed. The potential for the government to restore regional Australia’s native vegetation, preserve our biological integrity and protect our valuable ecosystems through funding from carbon markets is huge.
Read the full article here
 
 United Nations Climate Change Conference Dec 7 – 18 2009
 
Leaders from around the world will meet in Copenhagen this month to discuss a global climate change agreement aimed at ‘limiting the negative man-made effects on the climate system for future generations’.The Kyoto Protocol’s first commitment period to reduce greenhouse gas emissions expires in 2012 and COP 15 is designed to negotiate an internationally binding agreement for the period after that. Invitations have been sent to the leaders of 191 countries requesting their attendance at the U.N.-led summit with around 60 confirming so far.

What needs to be agreed? What are the likely outcomes? Who’s committing to what?

Find out more here
 
    Buildings to get energy efficiency rating similar to home appliances
Time is running out for commercial property owners to get their buildings rated ahead of the mandatory disclosure scheme coming into force around mid-2010. Certain commercial buildings to be sold or leased will need by law to disclose the building’s energy efficiency rating before any agreement can be made. Regardless of your lawful obligations it makes a lot of sense to know how efficient your building is and this is something Carbon Neutral specialises in.
 
Click here for more on this issue
 
Understanding Carbon Seminar Melbourne / Sydney 2010
 
Carbon Neutral will be bringing our successful Understanding Carbon seminar to Melbourne and Sydney in early 2010. Dates are yet to be confirmed but will most likely be in late March or April.
This seminar is a must for business and local government leaders and focuses on how to save money, reduce risk, and increase competitive advantage in an emerging carbon constrained economy. Issues such as theCPRS and emissions trading, carbon reduction strategies, funding, voluntary carbon market, consumer attitudes, and green marketing and green wash will be addressed.Please let us know if you are interested in attending in either Sydney Or Melbourne. For more information and to register your interest click on the link below:
Find out more and register interest for Understanding Carbon, Melbourne / Sydney, 2010
 
Planting news
Australia’s emerging emissions trading scheme will encourage forestry as one way to offset emissions. Forestry in Australia will form part of the national carbon accounts. Unfortunately for biodiverse revegetation these accounts are based on very conservative sequestration projections, while ample research exists for the many species used for monocultures so the projections are more attractive.Officials from Department of Climate Change acknowledge the urgent need for more research, particularly in WA. Despite any improvements to our understanding of Australia’s unique ecology, it is likely that monocultures will remain the most efficient way to offset under the CPRS- because they are better understood.

So why do we bother with biodiversity as one of the solutions to climate change?  In the words from a recent Department of Climate Change report we need to “Invest in our life support system” and  “renew public and private investment in this capital.”

One way that Carbon Neutral is directing investment into our life support system is by offering products such as ‘Trees for Revegetation’ as a value add to each Verified Emission Reduction Unit that we supply. These trees may be allocated to sites with high biodiversity, buffering remnant vegetation – where they play a role in both climate change adaptation and mitigation.

Click here for more information on climate change and biodiversity
 
Camp for Climate Action 2009
WA’s first ever Camp for Climate Action is taking place from December 17-21 in Collie, the heart of WA’s Coal industry. There are plans for the number of coal power stations in Collie to double though Australia is in a good position to switch to renewables. The Camp for Climate Action will be a convergence of people from all over WA and Australia who are determined to see real action on climate change.  The five day camp will be a participatory and sustainable event, where people are invited to share, learn, plan and take action. As one of five climate camps happening in Australia, and over 20 across the world, it will be an inspiring gathering of people coming together to take direct action for a living future.
 
For more information and to register your interest click here
                       
 Carbon Offsetting – why it means business
 
Offsetting carbon emissions from business activities presents opportunities for companies to generate new business, strengthen their brand and kick CSR goals too.
As international discussions on greenhouse gas emissions get serious with the 15th Conference of the Parties (COP15) in Copenhagen in December, there isheightened awareness amongst consumers and stakeholders of the climate impact of businesses. Smart carbon management and offsetting emissions presents an opportunity for companies to stand out in a crowded marketplace. The Carbon Disclosure Project 2007 (CDP5) states that “consumer-driven organisations can leverage their green initiatives to their customers, whether they sell directly to consumers or to manufacturers who use their products to make other products for consumers”.Over 66% of respondents to a market research report by Carbon Down on Victorian businesses’ climate change knowledge, attitudes and behaviours (July 2009) agree that they are “willing to pay more for supplies in order to protect the environment”.
Read the full article here
 
Vulnerable countries urge world to cut emissions
Click here to find out more from the climate summit
 
Human emissions rise 2% despite Global Financial Crisis
Click here for full information
 
 Purchase Carbon Neutral ecards and gift certificates this Christmas and support our 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
 
Extremes back climate expert’s warnings
Click here for the Australian news story
 
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 further information
 
Government energy efficiency subsidies for the home
To find out more about solar water heater subsidies click here
To find out more about insulation subsidies click here
To find out more about the national rainwater and greywater initiative click here
 
Green Loans
The Australian Government Green Loans Program provides Home Sustainability Assessments and access to interest free Green Loans of up to $10,000.
Click here for more information
 
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
 
 
 
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
 
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.
 
What’s Carbon Neutral really all about?
See what we had to say about who we are and why we’re different at the recent Carbon Markets Expo.
 

 
Watch this short video to hear what we had to say
 
Accredited carbon offsets
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 retired 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
 
Things you can do at home to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
Click here to view our Things You Can Do document
 
Electric vehicle special event
On 12th December a special event is coming up promoting electric vehicles in WA, in the form of a demonstration and test drive day at the RAC Driving Centre (near the airport).
Click here for more info
                       
 
 
 
Carbon Neutral Ltd – a not for profit organisationPh: 1300 851 211
Email: contact@carbonneutral.com.au – Website: www.carbonneutral.com.au
ABN 99 124 696 966
     
                       
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