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Carbon Offset Logo

In January 2007, we introduced Carbon Offset Flights. The emissions from these flights are calculated and the cost of offsetting is included in the price quoted. That means that every time you book a Carbon Offset Flight through us, you fly with the knowledge that your environmental impact has been reduced.

We're excited to say that an amazing number of Intrepid travellers have chosen to book our Carbon Offset Flights. In the first year alone our travellers offset 18,700 tonnes of carbon. In 2008, we offset a further 23,500 tonnes. That means Intrepid's travellers will have offset carbon emissions that equal the equivalent of approximately taking over 7,100 cars off the road for an entire year!*

Carbon Neutral diagram

Cleaner Climate - an international carbon solutions firm provides offsets for Intrepid's Carbon Offset Flights through a portfolio of Kyoto compliant projects. These projects promote energy efficiency or produce renewable energy within disadvantaged communities in developing countries and also provide multiple co-benefits in addition to environmental improvement.

*This calculation is based on the information provided through Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries average carbon emissions emitted by a light vehicle in 2007 and the 2007 ABS Average Kilometres Travelled in Australia.

Two of the offsetting projects are:

Rice Husk Biomass Project, Thailand

Famed for its jasmine rice, the Surin province in Eastern Thailand produces about 300,000 tonnes of rice husks annually. Local farmers within a 30km radius, are able to sell their unused rice husks to the biomass plant operated by Mungcharoen Green Power Company. The project activity annually generates 70,400 MW hours of renewable electricity to the Thailand grid from approximately 85,000 tonnes of rice husk.

Benefits of the project include:

  • Emissions reductions - the project actively reduces over 266,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalents during it's lifetime.
  • Provide new revenue - the local rice farmers are struggling in the face of economic and political uncertainty. By selling husks, they generate a valuable new source of income.
  • Reduce air pollution - this renewable energy generation displaces the use of oil and other fossil fuels and results in less pollution.
  • Develop local capacity - the project was the first in its province to demonstrate this new technology and management practices and educational visits to the facility are actively encouraged.
  • Minimise impact - dust and ash are strictly controlled to ensure minimal environmental impact and water used is recycled to green the surrounding area.

Mini Hydro Power, India

The 4.9 MW capacity hydro project is located on a tributary of the Beas River near the village of Patlikuhl in Kullu District, Himachal Pradesh Province of India. Since the project utilises run-of-river technology, power is produced from the natural flow of the river. No water is stored thereby ensuring minimal impact on the surrounding environment. Previous to the project being implemented, nearby rural villages were relying on forest wood burning which resulted in damaging greenhouse gases being released.

As a result of the project, clean and reliable power is now available to villages and new, non-rural jobs have been created. The mini hydro project has also helped set-up small scale/cottage industries in adjoining villages and has improved the quality of local roads fostering the development of local entrepreneurship and trade.

Benefits of the project include:

  • Emission reductions - the project will reduce over 124,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalents during its lifetime.
  • Develop rural economy - by generating additional electrical capacity in rural areas, local villages’ quality of life is improved as the quality of surrounding roads and reliability of the local grid are improved.
  • Cleaner environment - renewable energy generation displaces the use of polluting coal, gas and other fossil fuels.
  • Generate employment - the project installed locally sourced turbines and employs locals for ongoing operations, monitoring and maintenance.
  • Minimise Impact - run-of-river style mini hydro plants do not require any water reservoirs to generate power and therefore do not displace human populations or impact local flora and fauna species.

To enquire about our carbon offset flights, please contact us.

 
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