Carbon Offsetting Encouragement Policy
The Policy
As a socially responsible tertiary education institution committed to advancing the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, The Chinese University of Hong Kong encourages all staff members to offset carbon emissions from their air travel by buying carbon offsets to support projects that reduce carbon emissions in other ways.
Offsetting your carbon emissions from air travel
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Why
Carbon emissions from air travel
The aviation industry accounts for 2% of global CO2 emissions. Making a round trip in economy class between Hong Kong and New York, for example, results in the emission of about 2.2 tonnes of CO2 per person, which takes 96 trees one year to absorb.
Offsetting as a solution to carbon neutrality
Offsetting carbon emissions for air travel can be adopted as a means to achieve carbon neutrality. Although offsetting the CO2 emitted during business air travel does not reduce the carbon footprint of travellers, offsetting programmes offer the opportunity for us to give back to the environment. These programmes support a wide range of environmental projects which help to reduce carbon gain, from planting trees to protecting forest lands, and from improving the efficiency of household stoves to developing clean energy.
CUHK’s approach
The adoption of the Carbon Offsetting Encouragement Policy demonstrates CUHK’s determination, as co-host of SDSN Hong Kong, to pursue full compliance with the SDGs:
Who
Target participants
Staff members of CUHK
(Students’ and visitors’ participation is also welcome)
Scope
Air travel for business and personal trips
Nature
In the initial stage of the implementation of the encouragement policy, the purchase of carbon offsets is voluntary, and participating staff members can make purchases through their own means.
Learn more: Examples of Carbon Offset Prices for Air Travel
How
To offset your carbon emissions, you are advised to follow the two-step approach outlined below:
Step 1(a) Purchase carbon offsets directly from airlines
Various airlines offer their own carbon offset programmes. Customers may either purchase carbon offsets when they book their air tickets online, or may purchase them separately.
Learn more:
- List of Airlines which Offer Carbon Offset Programmes
- Step-by-step Guide to Purchasing Carbon Offsets from Airlines
OR
Step 1(b) Engage third party service providers
If the airline chosen does not offer a carbon offset programme, or if you wish to select carbon offset programmes offered by other service providers, many third party service providers can be found who provide carbon offsets to customers for a wide range of activities, including air travel.
Learn more: Step-by-step Guide to Purchasing Carbon Offsets from Third Party Service Providers for Air Travel
Step 2. Record your carbon offsets
To record the efforts to achieve carbon neutrality, offices are advised to document the purchases of carbon offsets via this e-form with related receipts and screenshots uploaded.
To encourage more offices to support carbon offsetting, participating offices will be rewarded with additional points in the Green Office Programme (please refer to AE2 Reducing carbon emissions from transportation).
FAQ
To learn more, please refer to the policy and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)