Climate Care
Encyclopedia
Climate Care is a UK-based carbon offset
company founded by eco-entrepreneur
Mike Mason in 1997. The idea came following a Masters in Environmental Change and Management at the Oxford University Environmental Change Institute, where he explored the potential of carbon funding for protecting endangered habitats
.
Climate Care is now a part of JPMorgan Chase's Environmental Markets business, though its head office remains in Oxford
, England. They also have satellite offices in countries around the world including Nairobi
, Kenya; Ankara
, Turkey; and Santiago, Chile
. On 24 August 2007, Climate Care announced that it had successfully delivered its first million tonnes of greenhouse gas
emission reductions.
ClimateCare manages emission reduction projects across the developing world using low carbon and energy efficiency technologies to drive sustainable development.
On 26 March, 2008, JPMorgan Chase announced the acquisition of Climate Care.
In their report on the Voluntary Carbon Market, the House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee concluded that research was needed on “what exactly encourages people to reduce their emissions” and the role that carbon offsetting could play in this. Regarding the evidence submitted to their enquiry they stated that “we found little substantial evidence to support the view that offsetting encourages ethical carelessness.”
, and the Voluntary Carbon Standard developed by The Climate Group.
Climate Care funds the International Development Enterprise India (IDEI) in promoting foot powered ‘treadle’ water pumps in India. This project won the Ashden Award for Sustainable Energy for Enterprise in 2006. The pump allows farmers with small landholdings to substantially increase the amount and variety of their crop production. A research study by the International Water Management Institute found that for families who bought a pump, their income increased on average by Rs 4,100 per year from a pump costing about Rs 1200. A typical farm income in this region is typically about Rs 7,000 per year.
Each treadle pump
reduces greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 0.5 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent per year. The emissions reductions are being accredited under the Voluntary Gold Standard
The project has come in for criticism from The Times
including accusations of negative impacts on children. Climate Care responded by citing an independent report assessing the impacts of the treadle pump on children, which concluded that "the welfare benefits of the pump extend in large part to the children", whilst a UN Human Development Report of 2006 described the treadle pump as a ‘cheap and affordable technology….[which] when combined with market-oriented production, their potential for poverty alleviation is great’. The project won the Ashden Award for Sustainable energy under Health and Welfare in 2006.
In 2007 ClimateCare offset all three of the major UK political parties’ conferences Labour
, Conservative
and Liberal Democrats
. They also offset for HRH Prince Charles and the leading sustainable development charity Forum for the Future
.
ClimateCare also works with large corporations such as Land Rover
, Aviva
, Powergen, Co-operative Bank
, Interface Flor, First Choice
and lastminute.com
.
Carbon offset
A carbon offset is a reduction in emissions of carbon dioxide or greenhouse gases made in order to compensate for or to offset an emission made elsewhere....
company founded by eco-entrepreneur
Sustainable business
Sustainable business, or green business, is enterprise that has no negative impact on the global or local environment, community, society, or economy—a business that strives to meet the triple bottom line. Often, sustainable businesses have progressive environmental and human rights policies...
Mike Mason in 1997. The idea came following a Masters in Environmental Change and Management at the Oxford University Environmental Change Institute, where he explored the potential of carbon funding for protecting endangered habitats
Habitat destruction
Habitat destruction is the process in which natural habitat is rendered functionally unable to support the species present. In this process, the organisms that previously used the site are displaced or destroyed, reducing biodiversity. Habitat destruction by human activity mainly for the purpose of...
.
Climate Care is now a part of JPMorgan Chase's Environmental Markets business, though its head office remains in Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
, England. They also have satellite offices in countries around the world including Nairobi
Nairobi
Nairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The city and its surrounding area also forms the Nairobi County. The name "Nairobi" comes from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nyirobi, which translates to "the place of cool waters". However, it is popularly known as the "Green City in the Sun" and is...
, Kenya; Ankara
Ankara
Ankara is the capital of Turkey and the country's second largest city after Istanbul. The city has a mean elevation of , and as of 2010 the metropolitan area in the entire Ankara Province had a population of 4.4 million....
, Turkey; and Santiago, Chile
Santiago, Chile
Santiago , also known as Santiago de Chile, is the capital and largest city of Chile, and the center of its largest conurbation . It is located in the country's central valley, at an elevation of above mean sea level...
. On 24 August 2007, Climate Care announced that it had successfully delivered its first million tonnes of greenhouse gas
Greenhouse gas
A greenhouse gas is a gas in an atmosphere that absorbs and emits radiation within the thermal infrared range. This process is the fundamental cause of the greenhouse effect. The primary greenhouse gases in the Earth's atmosphere are water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and ozone...
emission reductions.
History
ClimateCare is one of the world's first and largest organisations in originating, development and retail of voluntary carbon emission reductions.ClimateCare manages emission reduction projects across the developing world using low carbon and energy efficiency technologies to drive sustainable development.
On 26 March, 2008, JPMorgan Chase announced the acquisition of Climate Care.
Carbon offsetting
ClimateCare funds projects all over the world, particularly in developing countries, which produce verified reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and have associated social or environmental benefits for the local communities. They gain this funding by selling the greenhouse gas emission reductions to businesses and individuals. Often, but not always, these emission reductions are purchased by individuals and organisations in order to compensate for their own emissions - a process known as carbon offsetting. ClimateCare encourages offsetting as one part of a strategy for reducing emissions, to take responsibility for emissions that cannot yet be eliminated at source.Controversy
There is some controversy about whether carbon offsetting encourages more emissions from individuals in developed countries by believing that it relieves them of guilt or whether it encourages them to become further interested in reducing their carbon footprint. Carbon offset schemes have received criticism from some for their lack of regulation and perceived effectiveness. Some have criticised the use of carbon offsetting by certain businesses as an example of ‘greenwash’.In their report on the Voluntary Carbon Market, the House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee concluded that research was needed on “what exactly encourages people to reduce their emissions” and the role that carbon offsetting could play in this. Regarding the evidence submitted to their enquiry they stated that “we found little substantial evidence to support the view that offsetting encourages ethical carelessness.”
Greenhouse gas emission reduction projects
ClimateCare funds many projects around the world mainly in developing countries with the aim of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and supporting sustainable development in these countries. ClimateCare has delivered over one million tonnes worth of greenhouse gas emission reductions to date through projects in renewable energy, energy efficiency, methane capture and forestry. Projects are found and put through a set of principles to determine whether they are suitable and are then submitted to various independent standards to ensure accuracy, additionality and verification that emissions reductions are achieved. Standards for carbon offsetting include the Gold Standard, developed by charities such as WWFWorld Wide Fund for Nature
The World Wide Fund for Nature is an international non-governmental organization working on issues regarding the conservation, research and restoration of the environment, formerly named the World Wildlife Fund, which remains its official name in Canada and the United States...
, and the Voluntary Carbon Standard developed by The Climate Group.
Treadle pumps in North India
Each treadle pump
Treadle Pump
A treadle pump is a human-powered pump designed to lift water from a depth of seven metres or less. A treadle is a lever device pressed by the foot to drive a machine, in this case a pump. The treadle pump can do most of the work of a motorized pump, but costs considerably less to purchase...
reduces greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 0.5 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent per year. The emissions reductions are being accredited under the Voluntary Gold Standard
The project has come in for criticism from The Times
The Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
including accusations of negative impacts on children. Climate Care responded by citing an independent report assessing the impacts of the treadle pump on children, which concluded that "the welfare benefits of the pump extend in large part to the children", whilst a UN Human Development Report of 2006 described the treadle pump as a ‘cheap and affordable technology….[which] when combined with market-oriented production, their potential for poverty alleviation is great’. The project won the Ashden Award for Sustainable energy under Health and Welfare in 2006.
Clients
ClimateCare works with a significant variety and number of organisations.In 2007 ClimateCare offset all three of the major UK political parties’ conferences Labour
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
, Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
and Liberal Democrats
Liberal Democrats
The Liberal Democrats are a social liberal political party in the United Kingdom which supports constitutional and electoral reform, progressive taxation, wealth taxation, human rights laws, cultural liberalism, banking reform and civil liberties .The party was formed in 1988 by a merger of the...
. They also offset for HRH Prince Charles and the leading sustainable development charity Forum for the Future
Forum for the Future
Forum for the Future is a British non-profit organisation with a mission to promote sustainable development. Its vision is of "businesses and communities thriving in a future that’s environmentally sustainable and socially just". It runs partnerships with more than 90 organisations across business...
.
ClimateCare also works with large corporations such as Land Rover
Land Rover
Land Rover is a British car manufacturer with its headquarters in Gaydon, Warwickshire, United Kingdom which specialises in four-wheel-drive vehicles. It is owned by the Indian company Tata Motors, forming part of their Jaguar Land Rover group...
, Aviva
Aviva
Aviva plc is a global insurance company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the sixth-largest insurance company in the world measured by net premium income and has 53 million customers in 28 countries...
, Powergen, Co-operative Bank
Co-operative Bank
The Co-operative Bank plc is a commercial bank in the United Kingdom and Guernsey, with its headquarters in Manchester.The bank markets itself as an ethical bank, and refuses to invest in companies involved in the arms trade, global climate change, genetic engineering, animal testing and use of...
, Interface Flor, First Choice
First Choice
First Choice may refer to:* First Choice * First Choice , owned by TUI Travel PLC** First Choice Airways, its in-house airline* First Choice Haircutters, a Canadian hairdressing company...
and lastminute.com
Lastminute.com
lastminute.com is an online travel and leisure retailer. The company was founded by Martha Lane Fox and Brent Hoberman in 1998 and became an icon of the UK internet boom of the late 1990s, floating at the peak of the dot com bubble and trading on the London Stock Exchange under the symbol...
.
External links
- Official website
- Responding to Climate Change Climate Change organisation.