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Check out this article about the better choice for sustainable Xmas trees.

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2010/12/great-xmas-trees-delivered-by-bike.php?campaign=daily_nl

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Carbon Neutral e-news
February 2010

In this issue
>> Carbon Neutral 2009 Annual Report
>> Effectively managing your IT and carbon emissions willl save you more than just money
>> Carbon Neutral goes ‘carbon neutral’
>> What happened in Copenhagen?
>> Energising WA Conference
>> Sydney goes green with solar
>> UN International Year for Biodiversity
>> Accredited carbon offsets
>> Carbon Neutral gift certificates help to revegetate rural Australia
>> Green wash ALERT
>> Hottest decade on record
>> Global Footprint Network
>> Meat production and greenhouse gas emissions research
>> Understanding Carbon Seminar Melbourne 2010
>> Carbon Neutral helps leading media company go green
>> Business carbon news straight to your inbox
>> Buildings to get energy efficiency rating similar to appliances
>> Living Greener government website
>> Follow Carbon Neutral on Facebook
>> VIDEO: What’s Carbon Neutral really all about?
>> Things you can do at home to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
Carbon Neutral 2009 Annual Report
To see our new 2009 Annual Report click here >
Effectively managing your IT and carbon emissions will save you more than just money

Carbon emissions management, is now firmly embedded in many organisations and has moved beyond a feel good activity to a due diligence matter. Soon, carbon will be budgeted and controlled in the same way as business finances, with the identification of initiatives to reduce emissions and, of course, costs. Benefits of managing carbon emissions include waste reduction and better control of resources, enhanced public relations as well as meeting future regulatory requirements. Many businesses however are focused primarily on the cost savings and other financial benefits carbon management can bring an organization. One clear focus area is information technology (IT).

Carbon Neutral can help your business take control of your energy costs with its Carbon Reduction Programmes. To find out more call: 1300 851 211

> Click here to find out more

If you are having difficulty reading this newsletter click here       Carbon Neutral e-news December 2009                             In this issue >> Carbon Neutral in words! >> A guide to climate change and the CPRS/ETS >> Offsetting emissions is about more than just reducing carbon >> United Nations Climate Change Conference Dec 7 – 18 >> Buildings to get energy efficiency rating similar to home appliances >> Understanding Carbon seminar Melbourne/Sydney 2010 >> Planting news >> Camp for Climate Action 2009 >> Carbon Offsetting – why it means business >> Vulnerable countries urge world to cut emissions >> Human emissions rise 2% despite global financial crisis >> Purchase Carbon Neutral ecards and gift certificates this Christmas and support our environment! >> Extremes back climate expert’s warnings >> Bioenergy Australia 2009 Conference >> Government energy efficiency subsidies for the home >> Green Loans >> Living Greener government website >> Walk Against Warming 2009 – December 12th >> Follow Carbon Neutral on Facebook >> VIDEO: What’s Carbon Neutral really all about? >> Accredited carbon offsets >> Easy ways to support Carbon Neutral >> Things you can do at home to reduce greenhouse gas emissions >> Electric vehicle special event   Carbon Neutral in words!       A Guide to Climate Change and the CPRS/ETS What’s it all about? What’s the science? What does it mean to businesses, households and individuals? From smh.com.au: Climate change, the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme, Copenhagen and the Coalition. It’s been a few weeks of Cs in Canberra.But what is the CPRS about? What is the science that underpins the necessity for such an action? Why does Australia need a carbon trading deal in place before going to the global climate summit in Denmark? Should we care about what happens in some wintry Scandinavian capital far away from sunny Sydney? This excellent article from the Sydney Morning Herald breaks down the details and makes sense of some complex issues. Read it online here    Offsetting emissions is about more than just reducing carbon In this article published in the Conservation Council WA’s The Greener Times (Spring 09) Carbon Neutral’s Business Development Manager Chris Doherty argues that not enough is being done to integrate carbon market policy with other environmental outcomes.  While the climate outcomes are valuable, social and environmental factors must also be considered. The opportunity to intertwine funding for urgently needed carbon reduction activities with previously identified priorities for conservation development, for example, is one that must not be missed. The potential for the government to restore regional Australia’s native vegetation, preserve our biological integrity and protect our valuable ecosystems through funding from carbon markets is huge. Read the full article here    United Nations Climate Change Conference Dec 7 – 18 2009   Leaders from around the world will meet in Copenhagen this month to discuss a global climate change agreement aimed at ‘limiting the negative man-made effects on the climate system for future generations’.The Kyoto Protocol’s first commitment period to reduce greenhouse gas emissions expires in 2012 and COP 15 is designed to negotiate an internationally binding agreement for the period after that. Invitations have been sent to the leaders of 191 countries requesting their attendance at the U.N.-led summit with around 60 confirming so far. What needs to be agreed? What are the likely outcomes? Who’s committing to what? Find out more here       Buildings to get energy efficiency rating similar to home appliances Time is running out for commercial property owners to get their buildings rated ahead of the mandatory disclosure scheme coming into force around mid-2010. Certain commercial buildings to be sold or leased will need by law to disclose the building’s energy efficiency rating before any agreement can be made. Regardless of your lawful obligations it makes a lot of sense to know how efficient your building is and this is something Carbon Neutral specialises in.   Click here for more on this issue   Understanding Carbon Seminar Melbourne / Sydney 2010   Carbon Neutral will be bringing our successful Understanding Carbon seminar to Melbourne and Sydney in early 2010. Dates are yet to be confirmed but will most likely be in late March or April. This seminar is a must for business and local government leaders and focuses on how to save money, reduce risk, and increase competitive advantage in an emerging carbon constrained economy. Issues such as theCPRS and emissions trading, carbon reduction strategies, funding, voluntary carbon market, consumer attitudes, and green marketing and green wash will be addressed.Please let us know if you are interested in attending in either Sydney Or Melbourne. For more information and to register your interest click on the link below: Find out more and register interest for Understanding Carbon, Melbourne / Sydney, 2010   Planting news Australia’s emerging emissions trading scheme will encourage forestry as one way to offset emissions. Forestry in Australia will form part of the national carbon accounts. Unfortunately for biodiverse revegetation these accounts are based on very conservative sequestration projections, while ample research exists for the many species used for monocultures so the projections are more attractive.Officials from Department of Climate Change acknowledge the urgent need for more research, particularly in WA. Despite any improvements to our understanding of Australia’s unique ecology, it is likely that monocultures will remain the most efficient way to offset under the CPRS- because they are better understood. So why do we bother with biodiversity as one of the solutions to climate change?  In the words from a recent Department of Climate Change report we need to “Invest in our life support system” and … “renew public and private investment in this capital.” One way that Carbon Neutral is directing investment into our life support system is by offering products such as ‘Trees for Revegetation’ as a value add to each Verified Emission Reduction Unit that we supply. These trees may be allocated to sites with high biodiversity, buffering remnant vegetation – where they play a role in both climate change adaptation and mitigation. Click here for more information on climate change and biodiversity   Camp for Climate Action 2009 WA’s first ever Camp for Climate Action is taking place from December 17-21 in Collie, the heart of WA’s Coal industry. There are plans for the number of coal power stations in Collie to double though Australia is in a good position to switch to renewables. The Camp for Climate Action will be a convergence of people from all over WA and Australia who are determined to see real action on climate change.  The five day camp will be a participatory and sustainable event, where people are invited to share, learn, plan and take action. As one of five climate camps happening in Australia, and over 20 across the world, it will be an inspiring gathering of people coming together to take direct action for a living future.   For more information and to register your interest click here                          Carbon Offsetting – why it means business   Offsetting carbon emissions from business activities presents opportunities for companies to generate new business, strengthen their brand and kick CSR goals too. As international discussions on greenhouse gas emissions get serious with the 15th Conference of the Parties (COP15) in Copenhagen in December, there isheightened awareness amongst consumers and stakeholders of the climate impact of businesses. Smart carbon management and offsetting emissions presents an opportunity for companies to stand out in a crowded marketplace. The Carbon Disclosure Project 2007 (CDP5) states that “consumer-driven organisations can leverage their green initiatives to their customers, whether they sell directly to consumers or to manufacturers who use their products to make other products for consumers”.Over 66% of respondents to a market research report by Carbon Down on Victorian businesses’ climate change knowledge, attitudes and behaviours (July 2009) agree that they are “willing to pay more for supplies in order to protect the environment”. Read the full article here   Vulnerable countries urge world to cut emissions Click here to find out more from the climate summit   Human emissions rise 2% despite Global Financial Crisis Click here for full information    Purchase Carbon Neutral ecards and gift certificates this Christmas and support our environment!   Purchasing Carbon Neutral ecards is a great way that your organisation can help to reduce the demand on paper this Christmas. This year in Australia approximately 100 million (Australia Post) Christmas cards will be sent around the country inflicting a heavy toll on the environment.Trees are cut down and energy is used to produce cards and envelopes with the vast majority ending up in landfill. Paper production is also water-intensive with the production cycle and delivery leading to greenhouse gas emissions. By choosing to partner with Carbon Neutral and sending ecards (organisations) or gift certificates (suitable for individuals and organisations) this year you can demonstrate your commitment to the environment by reducing the use of natural resources and helping to plant more trees. Be kind to the environment this Christmas and New Year and send a Carbon Neutral ecard or Gift Certificate and help us plant more trees. Click here for ECARD and GIFT CERTIFICATE SAMPLES & order options   Extremes back climate expert’s warnings Click here for the Australian news story   Bioenergy Australia 2009 Conference Bioenergy Australia is hosting their annual Bioenergy Conference this December on the Gold Coast from 8-10 Dec.  On the 8th there will be an optional technical tour to biomass and bioenergy facilities.  The program has a large emphasis on biomass feed stocks. Click here for further information   Government energy efficiency subsidies for the home To find out more about solar water heater subsidies click here To find out more about insulation subsidies click here To find out more about the national rainwater and greywater initiative click here   Green Loans The Australian Government Green Loans Program provides Home Sustainability Assessments and access to interest free Green Loans of up to $10,000. Click here for more information   Living Greener government website The Australian Government has a website called Living Greener which has facts about energy, water, waste and transport and how to ‘live greener’ in all of these areas. Click here to see it       Walk Against Warming 2009 – December 12th Walk Against Warming is Australia’s largest day of community action on climate change. This year, Walk Against Warming will take place in locations across Australia to coincide with the midpoint of the Copenhagen Climate Summit and the International Day of Action on Climate Change. Due to the timing of this year’s walk, your participation and support of the event is crucial.  Join thousands of fellow Australians on this day of action which promises to be filled with music, fun & information. The WAW website will be updated regularly confirming the location and start time of each walk. To find out about Walk Against Warming in your state click here   Follow Carbon Neutral on Facebook Become a fan of Carbon Neutral’s page to keep up to date on environmental news, view photos & videos, and help spread the word.Click on the above image to view our page.   What’s Carbon Neutral really all about? See what we had to say about who we are and why we’re different at the recent Carbon Markets Expo.     Watch this short video to hear what we had to say   Accredited carbon offsets When you make a donation to Carbon Neutral to offset your emissions the money can be used to plant trees or to purchase Greenhouse Friendly Verified Emissions Reduction Units (VER’s).VERs can be used for immediate offset and are created from officially approved projects such as avoided landfill. One VER equals one tonne of CO2e that is already offset. Carbon Neutral will also plant 2 trees for each VER purchased. Clients can donate to Carbon Neutral and the appropriate number of VERs will be acquitted on their behalf (which means that they cannot be resold). 1 VER may be retired with a donation of $19.00. For further information on our offsetting options from our Product Guide click here   Easy ways to support Carbon Neutral You can now support Carbon Neutral’s important work by having recurring payments deducted from your credit card or bank account. Click here to print the Periodical Payment Form   Things you can do at home to reduce greenhouse gas emissions Click here to view our Things You Can Do document   Electric vehicle special event On 12th December a special event is coming up promoting electric vehicles in WA, in the form of a demonstration and test drive day at the RAC Driving Centre (near the airport). Click here for more info                           Carbon Neutral Ltd – a not for profit organisationPh: 1300 851 211 Email: contact@carbonneutral.com.au – Website: www.carbonneutral.com.au ABN 99 124 696 966                               click to unsubscribe Created with MySite

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Carbon Neutral e-news
November 2009

In this issue
>> Final message from CEO Leo Kerr
>> Carbon Neutral exhibits at the Carbon Markets Expo 2009
>> ABN Group leads the way in carbon management
>> Planting news from our SA partner Trees For Life
>> Planting news from Victoria
>> Biodiversity and Climate Change Report
>> With Carbon Neutral e-cards and gift certificates YOU CAN HELP THE ENVIRONMENT!
>> Bioenergy Australia 2009 Conference
>> Living Greener government website
>> Manure major driver behind nitrous oxide levels
>> Walk Against Warming 2009 – December 12th
>> Men of the Trees Seminar – Trees & Life
>> Follow Carbon Neutral on Facebook
>> Is your way of life worse for the environment?
>> Verified Emissions Reduction Units
>> Easy ways to support Carbon Neutral
>> Climate Action Network
>> Green Loans
>> Things you can do at home to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
Final message from CEO Leo Kerr

This will be the last e-newsletter with me at the helm of Carbon Neutral. My journey with CN began in 2001 when with Tim Lawrence, current president of Men of the Trees, and Barrie Oldfield, past president of Men of the Trees, we dreamed the Carbon Neutral program into existence in an unassuming Northbridge eatery.

From this seed of an idea CN has grown to become one of the nation’s leading organisations in the area of bio sequestration having planted millions of trees and been awarded a number of environmental accolades.

As a not for profit, the past year has been a difficult one with the degree of uncertainty surrounding the world’s economic systems. Carbon Neutral has however weathered the global financial crisis well and planted over half a million trees during the 2009 planting season. Despite the difficulties we managed to get our first Victorian plantings underway and now operate in WA, SA and Victoria.

With an emphasis on mixed native species, CN addresses a range of environmental issues besides carbon sequestration. The trees we plant help in stabilising soil and preventing erosion, they help arrest further encroachment of salinity, provide habitat to flora and fauna, cleanse water systems and provide a range of environmental services that are essential to a sustainable future.

The people at CN are a professional, passionate and positive group, conscious of the huge environmental challenges facing us as a species and taking practical measures to help address these. It has been my privilege and pleasure to be involved in the creation and development of Carbon Neutral as an organisation and to work with such an outstanding team. It has also been extremely gratifying to know that so many individuals and organisations within our community support our efforts.

Carbon Neutral will continue its journey, will continue to do the good work, the essential work. It is my hope that Carbon Neutral will also continue, by example, to inspire others in the community to take up its vision and share its dreams.

Carbon Neutral at the 2009 Carbon Markets Expo on Gold Coast

The Expo is Australasia’s premier Trade Fair & Conference for carbon market participants & service providers and Carbon Neutral was on hand to meet with market participants and display our capabilities as a quality biodiversity planting and offset partner as well as a provider of carbon auditing, reduction and management programmes.

Of particular interest were plenary sessions and workshops on removing legacy emissions from the atmosphere through biosequestration, business action on climate change, energy efficiency, the voluntary market and the CPRS.

The chance to position Carbon Neutral as a provider of high quality biodiversity carbon sinks and strategic carbon management programmes in a national context was exciting and is a crucial part of our brand building.

Videos and photos from the Expo are available here >
ABN Group leads the way in carbon management

All fourteen companies within the ABN Group were recently audited by Carbon Neutral as the first step to towards offsetting carbon emissions.

Read more here >
Planting news from our SA partner Trees For Life

Planting on eight sites in SA was supported by very good rains across much of the state this year. The majority of our carbon plantings in SA are done by direct seeding but some of the steeper sites are planted using tubestock or by hand direct seeding. School students have been enthusiastic helpers at our Gladstone and Monarto sites and a small group of Trees For Life volunteers has helped with seed collection, seed processing and hand direct seeding. With subscribers funding the plantings, and landholders hosting them, each Carbon Neutral site reflects a real community effort to contribute to the rehabilitation of the environment.
Planting news from Victoria

Planting at Maude where alternate plants are guarded to test the need for guarding fully in this locality. Three months on there was no need to extend the guarding.

Our first Victorian site has been successfully established with a mix of understorey and tree species. The team of planters manually planted the seedlings using potti putkis and finished planting the seedlings in July. The seedlings were planted deep with a minimum of 2cm of soil above the root ball. Species used were local indigenous species, primarily of local provenance, and Sugar Gum, a proven performer.

The site is a gentle, northerly sloping section of a peneplain around 200m above sea level and about 20km from the coast. It has been cropped and grazed by horses and ostriches at different times, and has suffered from some wind erosion. In the 1980’s and 90’s shelter belts of one or two row belts were planted. Carbon Neutral anticipates that this planting will establish well and provide significant benefits both in terms of carbon sequestration and land care.

Biodiversity and Climate Change Report

The Australian Government has released a report titled, ‘Australia’s Biodiversity and Climate Change: a strategic assessment of the vulnerability of Australia’s biodiversity to climate change’. The report provides compelling evidence of the need to protect Australia’s natural environment for future generations, from climate change and other environmental stresses.

Click here to view the report
With Carbon Neutral ecards and gift certificates YOU CAN HELP THE ENVIRONMENT!

Purchasing Carbon Neutral ecards is a great way that your organisation can help to reduce the demand on paper this Christmas. This year in Australia approximately 100 million (Australia Post) Christmas cards will be sent around the country inflicting a heavy toll on the environment.

Trees are cut down and energy is used to produce cards and envelopes with the vast majority ending up in landfill. Paper production is also water-intensive with the production cycle and delivery leading to greenhouse gas emissions.

By choosing to partner with Carbon Neutral and sending ecards (organisations) or gift certificates (suitable for individuals and organisations) this year you can demonstrate your commitment to the environment by reducing the use of natural resources and helping to plant more trees.

Be kind to the environment this Christmas and New Year and send a Carbon Neutral ecard or Gift Certificate and help us plant more trees.
Click here for ECARD and GIFT CERTIFICATE SAMPLES & order options
Bioenergy Australia 2009 Conference

Bioenergy Australia is hosting their annual Bioenergy Conference this December on the Gold Coast from 8-10 Dec. On the 8th there will be an optional technical tour to biomass and bioenergy facilities. The program has a large emphasis on biomass feed stocks.
Click here for full programme and registration details
Living Greener government website

The Australian Government has a website called Living Greener which has facts about energy, water, waste and transport and how to ‘live greener’ in all of these areas.

Click here to see it

Manure major driver behind nitrous oxide levels
A recent study has found manure is a major driver behind a rise in atmospheric nitrous oxide levels since the beginning of last century. The research, published in Nature Geoscience, adds to the growing debate over how best to estimate the increase in human-induced nitrous oxide (N2O) levels since the industrial revolution.

Click here for online article
Walk Against Warming 2009 – December 12th
Walk Against Warming is Australia’s largest day of community action on climate change. This year, Walk Against Warming will take place in locations across Australia to coincide with the midpoint of the Copenhagen Climate Summit and the International Day of Action on Climate Change. Due to the timing of this year’s walk, your participation and support of the event is crucial. Join thousands of fellow Australians on this day of action which promises to be filled with music, fun & information. The WAW website will be updated regularly confirming the location and start time of each walk.

To find out about Walk Against Warming in your state click here
Men of the Trees Seminar – Trees & Life
This free all day seminar focuses on the importance of trees and encourages participants to think about how we can protect them. A diverse panel will talk about their experiences with trees and Great Gardens and Heavenly Hectares will provide some gardening tips.

Click here to see the flyer
Follow Carbon Neutral on Facebook

Become a fan of Carbon Neutral’s page to keep up to date on environmental news, view photos & videos, and help spread the word.

Click on the above image to view our page.
Is your way of life worse for the environment?
Watch this 30 second video below to find out if your way of life is worse for the environment.

Watch this 30 second video to find out more >
Verified Emissions Reduction Units
When you make a donation to Carbon Neutral to offset your emissions the money can be used to plant trees or to purchase Greenhouse Friendly Verified Emissions Reduction Units (VER’s).

VERs can be used for immediate offset and are created from officially approved projects such as avoided landfill. One VER equals one tonne of CO2e that is already offset. Carbon Neutral will also plant 2 trees for each VER purchased. Clients can donate to Carbon Neutral and the appropriate number of VERs will be acquitted on their behalf (which means that they cannot be resold). 1 VER may be acquitted with a donation of $19.00.

For further information on our offsetting options from our Product Guide click here
Easy ways to support Carbon Neutral
You can now support Carbon Neutral’s important work by having recurring payments deducted from your credit card or bank account.

Click here to print the Periodical Payment Form
Climate Action Network
The Conservation Council is hosting this new meeting so people can meet others wishing to work on climate change issues and to share skills and experience to take back into their communities for localized campaigns. You will learn from experts about successful community organising campaigns, how to have effective climate change conversations and engage everyday Australians, gain practical skills in organizing and lobbying, network, share strategies and plan for your campaign with assistance and guidance.

Contact Elize – wo@conservationwa.asn.au / 9420 7266, for further information.

Green Loans
The Australian Government Green Loans Program provides Home Sustainability Assessments and access to interest free Green Loans of up to $10,000.
For further information click here
Things you can do at home to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
Click here to view our Things You Can Do document
Carbon Neutral Ltd – a not for profit organisation

Ph: 1300 851 211
Email: contact@carbonneutral.com.au – Website: www.carbonneutral.com.au
ABN 99 124 696 966

In this months’s Carbon Neutral e-news

>> Prioritisation – difference between success and failure for carbon managers

>> Low carbon economy an immense opportunity

>> Planting season news

>> Carbon Neutral purchases land

>> Professional development seminar – native tree decline

>> Verified Emissions Reduction Units

>> Deforestation linked to drought and climate change – YOU CAN HELP!

>> CSIRO Home Energy Saving Handbook

>> Visit us at the Carbon Markets Expo!

>> Seminar success

>> Australia tops ‘climate criminals’ list – now world’s biggest polluter

>> Follow Carbon Neutral on Facebook

>> Is your way of life worse for the environment?

>> Carbon Neutral e-cards

>> Easy ways to support Carbon Neutral

>> Climate Action Network

>> Sensis environmental program

>> Green Loans

>> Things you can do at home to reduce greenhouse gas emissions

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