The GreenTech 2019 conference held by Green Marine in Cleveland, Ohio, this past June 5 to 7 has received its Planetair certification as a carbon-neutral event. The event itself reduced its carbon footprint by 26% over the previous edition in terms of tons of CO2 emitted per attendee (i.e. 0.45 t/attendee instead of 0.61 t/attendee).
For the sixth consecutive year, Green Marine purchased high-quality carbon offset credits to neutralize the climate footprint of its annual conference. All factors were taken into account, including the conference site, accommodations, food, paper, supplies, as well as land, air and ferry transportation for all 161 attendees, resulting in a total 72.1 tons of emitted CO2.
SUMMARY OF EMISSIONS | ||||
Source of emissions | kg CO2e | |||
Conference site, accommodations, food, other supplies | 8 564 | |||
Land transportation | 7 850 | |||
Air transportation | 55 317 | |||
Boat/ferry transportation | 326 | |||
Paper | 30 | |||
TOTAL EMISSIONS | kg | 72087 | ||
t | 72,1 | |||
TOTAL EMISSIONS PER ATTENDEE | kg | 447,74 | ||
t | 0,45 |
This year’s carbon offset funds will go towards a reforestation project in Canada. These forestry credits are from the first and only Gold Standard project in Canada.
The project aims at reforesting degraded and unused land in urban and semi-urban areas, as well as upgrading forest ecosystems and creating green spaces in the greater Montreal metropolitan area. It involves the administrative regions of the Laurentians, Lanaudière, and Montérégie.
Plantings help to establish green corridors that favour a gradual return of biodiversity, notably the Kirtland’s Warbler, a bird species on the verge of extinction that reproduces only in young jack pines. The project will also contribute to reduced water runoff and cleaner air.
Thank you to RightShip for sponsoring the carbon offset costs to enable Green Marine to present a carbon neutral 12th annual conference!