COP23 aims for climate neutrality

The UN Climate Change Conference (COP23) in Bonn aims to become fully climate neutral and is looking at different aspects of sustainability. The lion’s share of greenhouse gas emissions comes […]

The UN Climate Change Conference (COP23) in Bonn aims to become fully climate neutral and is looking at different aspects of sustainability.

The lion’s share of greenhouse gas emissions comes from long distance air travel with most delegates travelling from abroad.

Further sources of emissions are from hotel overnight stays and the associated use of energy as well as local mobility.

For local travel, the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) suggests using public transport as much as possible.

Electric vehicles powered by renewable energy will be used for shuttle transport connecting the two official conference zones.

All of the unavoidable emissions from COP23 will be offset by the German Government by buying certified emission reduction credits, preferably from the Clean Development Mechanism projects registered in small island developing states.

The focus on these countries is in recognition that Fiji has the Presidency of the conference in Bonn.

Dennis Winkler, Lead of the COP23 Sustainability Taskforce responsible for the sustainability at the conference said: “Travel, food, local transportation and accommodation – all related aspects happening at and around the conference get an emissions tag.

“We then add up all relevant tags and define a process for offsetting the resulting footprint.”

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