She explained that as Environment Minister she felt it important that her Department continue to set an example when tackling carbon emissions. Now the Minister will ensure that her department counters any carbon omissions caused by her civil servants while travelling by road and air on official business by planting native broadleaf trees throughout the Department of the Environment estate in Northern Ireland.
The Minister added: "Our everyday actions consume energy and produce carbon dioxide emissions that can cause harm to our environment. One of the chief concerns is emissions caused by cars and planes. It is not practical or desirable to stop travelling entirely, but we can still do something about the carbon footprint we leave.
“That is why I have initiated this action within my department in conjunction with the Woodland Trust, to ensure that the DOE carbon footprint is minimised. This will be a win-win for Northern Ireland as this will also contribute to our objectives in relation to biodiversity and increasing Northern Ireland’s level of woodland cover."
Pictured are (from left) the Minister of the Environment Arlene Foster MLA, Patrick Cregg of the Woodland Trust, Richard Rogers and Eileen Curry of the Environment & Heritage Service - http://www.ehsni.gov.uk/other-index/news.htm?act=d&id=15530
NOTES TO EDITORS:
- Offsetting is a way of compensating for the emissions produced with an equivalent carbon dioxide saving. In this way it lessens the impact of essential business travel.
- Staff in DOE have already reduced their flights by 25% this year from the previous year.
- The number of flights taken by DOE personnel has fallen by 458 from 2067 in 2005/06 to 1,609 in 2006/07. This represents a reduction of 22%. The total average flights per person has fallen by 25% from 0.74 to 0.55.
- This action will contribute to a number of Government targets as follows: the Northern Ireland Sustainable Development Strategy (2006) commits that the government estate will be carbon neutral by 2015; and the Northern Ireland Biodiversity Strategy (2002) commits to increasing forestry and woodland cover.
- Our everyday actions consume energy and produce carbon dioxide emissions, for example driving a car, heating a home or flying. Offsetting is a way of compensating for the emissions produced with an equivalent carbon dioxide saving. In this way it lessens the impact of a consumer’s actions. However, it is important to note that offsetting does not actually reduce the emissions contributing to climate change which is why it is important that we all reduce and avoid consuming energy.
- Due to the fact that greenhouse gases have a long life-span and tend to mix evenly in the atmosphere it doesn’t matter where gases are emitted in the world: the effect on climate change is the same. It is easier to reduce emissions from some sources than others but sometimes emissions are unavoidable. To make up for unavoidable emissions increases, equivalent emissions reductions can be made elsewhere, meaning that the overall effect is zero.
- Government acknowledges that carbon offsetting is not a cure for climate change but it can help raise awareness and reduce the impact of our actions. The most appropriate action to take is to reduce emissions.
