Is your next business meeting climate-neutral?
Onemeeting.com makes it happen!
How? Together with the Green balance group, we calculated the carbon emissions generated by each meeting package. By making a minor contribution, you compensate these emissions by investing in the Gold Standard carbon offsetting project ‘Cleaner Cook Stoves’ in Rwanda. At OneMeeting, we believe it’s important to contribute to a better and cleaner world. Do you agree?
How does it work? A climate-neutral meeting in 5 simple steps
1. Every meeting generates carbon emissions.
2. You indicate your preference for hosting a climate-neutral meeting while making a reservation.
3. You pay a minor contribution for each meeting package.
4. Your entire contribution is invested by OneMeeting into a sustainable energy project, which fully offsets the carbon emissions generated by your meeting package.
5. Your meeting is now 100% climate-neutral!
A Gold Standard carbon offsetting project: Cookstoves in Rwanda
Firewood accounts for at least 86% of total energy consumption in Rwanda. For no less than 98% of local households, it is the primary fuel used for cooking. The distribution of efficient cookstoves reduces the usage of firewood and smoke formation, which consequently leads to fewer carbon emissions.
The rural population in Rwanda primarily uses firewood and charcoal as fuel for preparing their meals. They mostly rely on traditional cooking methods, using fire and old-fashioned cookstoves. The efficient cookstoves lead to a significant decrease of wood burning.
Frequently asked questions
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What is carbon offsetting?Carbon offsetting is an instrument used to neutralise unavoidable carbon emissions. We often receive questions about this method. As we understand that not everyone is familiar with it, this section answers the most frequently asked and critical questions.
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Is OneMeeting climate-neutral?The OneMeeting offices are 100% climate-neutral. Our carbon footprint was calculated by the Green Balance Group, and we entirely compensate these emissions.
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Isn’t carbon offsetting an easy way to avoid taking real action?The argument is often raised that companies should exclusively focus on reducing their own emissions. Carbon offsetting is however part of a more complete policy: reducing carbon emissions and compensating unavoidable carbon emissions. A study by Ecosystem Marketplace confirms this statement: Companies that offset their carbon emissions are simultaneously more or highly active in reducing their own emissions.
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What guarantees that the carbon offsetting actually takes place and who verifies it?International carbon offsetting standards and registers guarantee authenticity and transparency. Carbon offsetting projects can therefore only be implemented if it is irrefutably proven that the proceeds of the carbon credits are critical for project viability. This also counters the argument that these projects would also be developed without carbon credits. Internationally renowned auditors such as TÜV, Det Norske Veritas and SGS complete an advance project plan evaluation, visit the project during its start-up phase and normally revisit the project each year. Double-counting carbon credits is made impossible as each credit has a unique and officially registered serial number, which is withdrawn and registered to the buyer’s name after being purchased.
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Isn’t it so that the majority of the price for carbon credits doesn’t make its way to the project?The carbon offsetting chain consists of the project owner, the project developer, the provider and the customer. The price of carbon credits consists of the implementation of the emission reduction technology, emission development costs (fees for auditors, emission compensation standards and registers) and a risk premium used if something inadvertently goes wrong. Part of these costs are borne by the project developer. The provider earns a margin on the purchase and sales of carbon credits.
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Are the social objectives of these projects actually attained?Yes, they are and must be attained and include employment opportunities, education, medical facilities, biodiversity and more. In addition to preventing carbon emissions, these projects show a tangible social impact. These aspects are an integrated element of the methods used for project evaluation and possible approval. Recent studies carried out by ICROA and the Gold Standard Foundation have quantified this. They prove that funds are invested in aspects such a biodiversity, employment opportunities and health related matters. Without focusing on these aspects, a project does not earn the right to generate carbon credits.
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Does carbon offsetting make a difference?Participating in carbon offsetting is voluntary and this ‘voluntary’ industry is currently relatively small. A recent UN report shows that the gap between current global carbon offsetting efforts and the quantities required to stabilise global climate change in 2020 is still incredibly large. The carbon offsetting industry is however important for two specific reasons: First, the total size of the carbon offsetting industry has grown tremendously over the past years and it tangibly contributes to establishing sustainable energy projects in developing countries, while helping companies and governments to attain their emissions objectives. Secondly, governments use the project methods and market forms to learn and increase their ability to further structure carbon credit pricing and improve regulations.