Tropentag, September 19 - 21, 2016 in Vienna, Austria "Solidarity in a competing world - fair use of resources"

The Boku CO₂ Compensation System

¹Centre for Global Change and Sustainability, Austria
²University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU), Centre for Development Research, Austria

Abstract

Climate mitigation projects can be carried out in different sectors, for example, the reforestation of fallow area with trees that absorb CO₂ from the air or the replacement of a diesel generator in a rural area by a photovoltaic system.

The core of the BOKU CO₂ compensation system are long term, innovative and participatory climate mitigation projects which are planned, funded, implemented and supported in host countries. Mostly BOKU staff had been involved in the area through joint research projects already prior to project intervention. The goal of BOKU mitigation projects is not only climate protection, but also the structural and sustainable change in the area! Therefore, the scientific CO₂ advisory board selects only those carbon offset projects which have a holistic approach e.g. through the cooperation of science and local population to develop comprehensive climate programs and which have varied positive benefits such as biodiversity, water and soil protection, gender equality, participation, education and training, entrepreneurship opportunities for the local economy.

The current BOKU climate mitigation projects are located in Ethiopia, Nepal and Costa Rica. The first project started 2012 in Ethiopia where suitable areas and tree species for afforestation had been selected in a participatory process with the local land users. This participatory process lasted more than a year and a joint Community Use Plan for the sustainable management had been agreed on. The permanence of the afforestation, the first 10.000 seedlings were planted in June 2015, can now be secured by a broad acceptance of the project by the land users.

The CO₂ price for BOKU climate mitigation project is between 22€ and 65€. The costs of the project represent the project development costs of each climate mitigation project. While a 5% management fee for administration purpose is added. In addition to air emissions, companies or individuals can also compensate the CO₂ damage caused by its operations or specific products / processes emissions.

Keywords: Co-benefits , CO₂ compensation, financing CO₂ mitigation projects of BOKU

Contact Address: Dominik Schmitz, Centre for Global Change and Sustainability, Borkowskigasse 4, 1190 Vienna, Austria, e-mail: dominik.schmitzboku.ac.at