Trees, Water & People s Carbon Offset Program Once you have Reduced, Reused, and Recycled, you re Ready to Offset! + = < GHG emissions with carbon offsets equals less global warming
About Trees, Water & People Trees, Water & People (TWP) is a nonprofit that implements reforestation, watershed protection, and renewable energy programs in Latin America and the American West.
What causes climate change and why is it bad? Burning fossil fuels (natural gas, gasoline, coal) releases carbon into the atmosphere that had previously been safely stored underground Climate change causes ice cap melting, rising sea levels, and desertification. It also increases the geographical range of tropical diseases, hurricanes, drought, forest fires, etc.
What s YOUR Carbon Footprint? We all release greenhouse gases in our daily operations. How much do you or your business emit? To find out your energy usage and how many tons of CO2 you need to offset go to: www.treeswaterpeople.org/support/support_car bon_personalcalc.htm!
Carbon Offsets 1. Make carbon-reducing changes in your lifestyle, like driving less and recycling more; for more ideas go to: www.treeswaterpeople.org/support/support_carbon _reduce.htm 2. Use our carbon calculator to offset your remaining greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions with Trees, Water & People s Carbon Offset Program 3. Make a donation to TWP to fund our fuel-efficient stoves or tree planting programs
TWP s two-pronged approach to reducing global warming and conserving tropical forests Build fuel-efficient stoves that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and demand for firewood Reforest land to increase the supply of trees to capture carbon dioxide and reduce the harvesting pressure on forests
TWP in Latin America Has been working in Latin America since 1998 Has established reforestation and fuelefficient stove projects in Central America, Mexico, Brazil, and Haiti Has produced and planted 2.7 million trees, built more than 29,500 fuel-efficient stoves, and helped one mayor get elected
Stove Programs Indoor air pollution The World Health Organization estimates that over 1.6 million women and children die annually from indoor air pollution caused chiefly by traditional open-fire cookstoves.
The Justa Stove Developed by Trees, Water & People, Aprovecho Research Center, and the Honduran Association for Development (AHDESA) in Honduras after Hurricane Mitch in 1998 TWP and AHDESA have built more than 13,000 Justa stoves in Honduras
Stove Programs TWP and partner NGOs: PROLENA Nicaragua AHDESA Honduras Arboles y Agua para el Pueblo El Salvador AMURT - Haiti have built more than 29,500 improved stoves, helping more than 147,500 people
Stove Programs Our stoves provide many benefits: Remove approximately 80% of indoor air pollution Reduce incidence of respiratory illnesses Save money & time because less firewood is needed Provide extra income to small businesses such as tortilla makers
The Honduras EcoStove USEPA and the Ashden Award - Climate Care allowed AHDESA to develop their own EcoStove models, with help from Aprovecho
The Honduras EcoStove TWP and AHDESA remodeled factory in 2008 to scale up production of EcoStoves and Justa stoves AHDESA continues to develop new stove models
The Nicaragua EcoStove Metal fuel-efficient stoves developed by TWP, PROLEÑA, and Aprovecho
The Nicaragua EcoStove TWP and PROLEÑA have built over 8,250 EcoStoves in Nicaragua since 2000. Target Populations: Urban Families Urban micro-entrepreneurs (tortilla & nacatamal makers)
Study on EcoStove Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reductions Kitchen Performance Test (KPT) conducted for Climate Care Ltd. by the consulting firms Ambiental PV and ENASA Annual reduction in CO 2 emissions estimated based on the amount of fuelwood used by tortilla and nacatamal (tamale) producers using EcoStoves vs. traditional stoves
Study Results Kitchen Performance Test (KPT) Stove model User class & food Tonnes CO 2 avoided/yr/stove EcoFogon/Honduras EcoFogon/Honduras EcoFogon/Nicaragua Dom. tortillas Com. tortillas Com. tortillas 1.0 3.5 4.9 EcoBarril/Nicaragua Com. nacatamales 1.1
Stove Programs Emissions testing conducted by independent researchers showed that each stove in domestic use saves 1 metric ton in CO 2 emissions per year, thanks to its fuel-efficiency. Each stove is expected to last 7.5 years, for a total of 7.5 metric tons of CO 2 avoided over its lifetime. A stove costs $75, resulting in a price of $10 per metric ton.
Reforestation Programs Tropical Deforestation In El Salvador and Haiti only 2% of native forests remain. Bare hillsides are vulnerable to erosion and catastrophic landslides.
Reforestation Programs TWP and our partners grow hundreds of thousands of trees every year in community nurseries, locally owned & operated more than 2.5 million trees in the last 10 years!
Reforestation Programs Our trees are planted by: Community groups to keep springs from drying up and protect rivers from erosion Individual farmers wanting to grow a sustainable supply of wood
Reforestation Programs Tree planting reduces the amount of carbon dioxide - a greenhouse gas - in the atmosphere Trees absorb carbon dioxide and turn the carbon into wood Along as the trees don t burn, the carbon is fixed
Reforestation Programs Our carbon offset program plants species that are too valuable to be burned as firewood: Fruit trees will be allowed to grow for decades for their fruit that families can eat and sell Tropical hardwoods will be used to build furniture for sale in local markets
Reforestation Programs Each tree is estimated to sequester 1 metric ton of CO 2 over its lifetime TWP plants 5 trees per ton CO 2 to guarantee one mature tree survives Each seedling of these high-value species costs $2. 5 seedlings/ton x $2/seedling = $10/ton CO 2
Why Choose TWP s Carbon Offsets? TWP s voluntary market carbon offsets are a valuable service for globally responsible individual companies who want to protect our fragile planet and civilization against drought, flooding, and other threats to our way of life Our carbon offsets have a great story attached due to the social and environmental benefits of helping needy families. Our pricing is just $10/ton offset It s tax-deductible
Offset your carbon with TWP! Because businesses vary so much in size and energy usage, we will use as an example the average American individual s GHG emissions: 20 tons/yr x $10/ton = $200/yr to be carbon neutral Consider working towards carbon neutrality gradually to avoid breaking your budget. For example, start by offsetting your transportation in 2009, add in heating in 2010 To make a tax-deductible donation to offset your company s carbon emissions, visit our website, www.treeswaterpeople.org and click on the offset your carbon link. It s easy!
For more information contact: Stuart Conway International Director Trees, Water & People 633 Remington St. Fort Collins, CO 80524 stuart@treeswaterpeople.org www.treeswaterpeople.org (970) 484-3678 Thanks for your attention and we look forward to hearing from you!