Carbon Off-setting

Carbon off-setting is a financial way of measuring metric tons of carbon dioxide to reduce its negative impact on the environment. Monies used to “off-set” go to projects aimed at reducing greenhouse gases, commonly those projects dealing with renewable energies such as wind farms as well as efficiency projects like the destruction of industrial pollutants.

Vancouver 2010 (VANOC) has set their carbon off-set goal at a whopping 300,000 metric tons! They have already handled the 110,000 tons produced by construction and transportation prior to the games – the big issue now is all of the pollution generated by people attending the Games from around the world. It has been estimated that between 150,000 - 190,000 tons of CO2 will be emitted by domestic and international flights and local hotel stays, and VANOC is asking travellers and the public to pitch in. Through Offsetters.ca, visitors can donate $25 to the off-setting cause – enough to counter one metric ton of waste – and receive a limited edition pin. Tourists can also calculate their own Olympics-related carbon footprint and off-set it on the site.

Greening the Games

By now, we're all aware of the problems plaguing this year's Olympic Games in Vancouver. Sure, they might not have been planning ahead when deciding to host the Winter Games in a city that doesn't exactly have winter, but they were definitely thinking when it came to environmental sustainability. Each Olympic venue was designed to minimize local environmental impact while using sustainable resources to minimize waste. Here is just a sample of what they have done to make these what many are calling, “the greenest games on record”:

Cypress Mountain -- home of Freestyle Skiing and Snowboarding -- The downhill runs at this site were designed within the previously existing Cypress Mountain Ski Area to avoid forest clear-cutting. In areas where site-clearing could not be avoided, the trees were chipped and used on-site for revegetation and composting purposes.

Richmond Olympic Oval -- home of Long-track Speed Skating -- While this venue was built especially for the Games, its massive 2-hectare roof was created by a unique source: trees killed by pine-beetle infestation. It is widely believed to be the largest surface ever covered in this type of damaged wood.

Vancouver Athletes’ Village – when redeveloping the waterfront areas around the athletes’ village in Vancouver, the streets were designed to accommodate pedestrians and cyclists first and foremost, while the underground parkade serves co-op/carshare vehicles and offers hookups for electric cars. After the Games, 250 suites will be converted into affordable housing units.

Getting Around

How you get to and from work can have a big impact on the environment. While walking and biking to work is the greenest option, it’s not the most appealing method in grips of a -20 temperature snap (I like to call these two-toque days). Using public transportation is a great option for those who live farther away and don’t need to bring their vehicle to work. Some workplaces offer employee discounts or subsities on public transit, so this could be worth checking in to. However, even at the regular price, a bus pass is often much cheaper than insurance, fuel, and auto maintenance.

If you need your vehicle on-site while at work, why not carpool with others? Carpool.ca is a great database of would-be drivers and passengers throughout Edmonton and area. Just think, you can meet new people, save on gas, and help the environment all during your morning commute! If you’re the lucky driver, you can check out Transport Canada’s tips to “green up” your travels here.

AB Gov't Disappoints on Enviro Action

Not surprisingly, environmental initiatives weren't high on the Alberta Government's list of priorities in to 2010-11 Budget. As someone who is trying to teach kids the importance of protecting the environment, it's awfully hard to do when the government is cutting funding to clean air and climate management programs in order to save their botched health care experiments.

In 2009-10:

"Budgeted program expense for Environment is $347.7 million in 2009-10.

The 2009-10 budget includes:

$172 million for initiatives to address climate change, including $95 million for the Climate Change and Emissions Management Fund which will support projects or technology to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the province and $52 million for projects under the Canada ecoTrust for Clean Air and Climate Change.
$102 million for ongoing environmental management programs.
$16 million in operating support for the Water for Life strategy, which represents the majority of a cross-ministry total of more than $22 million budgeted in 2009-10.
The 2009-12 Capital Plan includes $100 million in 2009-10, budgeted in the Ministry of Transportation, in capital support for regional drinking water and wastewater projects supporting the Water for Life strategy."


The 2010-11 Budget reads:

"Budgeted program expense for Environment is $307.9 million in 2010-11, a $17.5-million or 5.4-per-cent reduction from the 2009-10 forecast. The ministry’s budget reflects lower revenue and expense for the Climate Change and Emissions Management Fund, and savings from contract deferrals and reduced discretionary spending.
The 2010-11 budget includes:

$141 million for initiatives to address climate change, including $78 million for the Climate Change and Emissions Management Fund and $46 million for projects under the Canada ecoTrust for Clean Air and Climate Change.

$96 million for ongoing environmental management programs.

$19 million in operating support for the Water for Life strategy, which represents the majority of a cross-ministry total of $25 million budgeted in 2010-11.
In addition, there is $63 million in capital support in 2010-11, budgeted in the Ministry of Transportation, for regional drinking water and wastewater projects supporting Water for Life."