We at the CAC are aware that attending our conference means that every participant creates a carbon footprint. One way to address this is to purchase or create carbon offsets to mitigate the greenhouse gas emissions from transportation. If you are concerned about the impact travelling to a CAC conference has on the environment, there are several ways you can minimize your ‘footprint’ on the world.
But first you need to calculate your carbon footprint by using our carbonfootprint calculator at the bottom of this page. When you have worked out the ‘carbon cost’ of your trip to our conference, you have a range of options.
1. Make a financial donation to carbon offset as part of yourregistration process. The registration form contains an option to make a carbon offset donation. Simply tell us how much you wish to donate against your carbon footprint and we will add that to the cost of your registration as a separate item.
Your donation will go to The Center for Christian Services Foundation (FUNCEDESCRI), a nonpartisan, Guatemalan not-for-profit private foundation which promotes social and economic development alternatives among families living in village conditions of extreme poverty. The Center’s forest covers an area of 407 acres. The highest section, around 2,000 meters above sea level (6,500 feet) is classified as Sub-Tropical, Very Humid, Cloud Forest, and the lower elevations to 1,500 meters (4,900 feet) are classified as Lower Mountain Rain Forest.
A careful Forest Management Plan allows FUNCEDESCRI to maintainapermanent tree nursery, using the seeds and seedlings from selected
species in the forest site.
They continue to reforest the clear-cut areas and keep in check the weeds and brush
that invade the reforested areas.
There is also small-scale processing of forestry
products including lumber and essential oils from plants, as well as training sessions in specific themes for groups of villagers, university students, and technicians interested in learning practical methods to sustainably manage forest resources.
2. Reduce emissions. You, your family, friends or colleagues canoffset the carbon cost of your trip in many ways. Here are some examples of how to reduce your carbon emissions in other ways.
Bike For each mile biked instead of driven you have created a 2 lb carbon credit
Car Pool For each mile not driven solo you have created a 1 lb carbon credit
Light Bulbs For each traditional bulb changed to an energy efficient one you create 350 lbs carbon credit
Heat Turn the temperature in your house/office/church down (or up for warmer climates) for one week and create carbon credits.
1 degree change = 5 lb credit
2 degree change = 10 lb credit
3 degree change = 15 lb credit
Coffee Each 1 lb of organic, fair trade coffee you buy = 10 lbs carbon credit
Forestation Invest in forestation projects. For each tree planted you create a 400 lbs carbon credit
Wind Power For each $5.50 invested in wind power, you create a 200 lb carbon credit
So, participating in a CAC event need not have a carbon impact. For a lot more information on sustainability and carbon footprint offsets, visit our sustainability page at http://www.cacradicalgrace.org/aboutus/sustain_emissions.html.