Although the science of climate change, and in particular the impact of aviation emissions, is not yet fully understood, there is increasing recognition that the carbon dioxide (CO2) produced by aircraft is contributing to climate change. The flights taken by Expert Africa's own team, and our travellers, are partly responsible for this.

A typical one-way flight to Africa generates about one tonne of CO2 per person travelling. Expert Africa will be donating £20 per team member who travels to and from Africa. We'll give this to verified 'carbon offset' projects which are engaged in activities like tree-planting, promoting renewable energy and reducing energy consumption. These will all generate CO2 'savings' which go some way towards balancing out our flight emissions.

We know that most of our travellers will want to help with this. Hence, from 1st March 2007, any new invoices that we issue will include this extra £20 per person.

This represents the average cost of offsetting a flight to Africa and back to the UK.

Paying this is, of course, a matter of personal choice – should any traveller not wish to do so, then they can simply deduct this amount from their final balance.

We know that this effort to offset some of our emissions is not perfect or a complete solution, but it's a start. We are also trying to reduce our office emissions and waste – including turning lights, computers and screens off every night – and although these are small things, when taken together we hope that they will help to make a difference.

We are in the process of finding and following the progress of good projects with which we can offset our traveller's carbon emissions in a verifiable way. Our current plan is to split our offset donations in 2007 between:

Flying Forest

and

Tourism Industry Carbon Offset Scheme

We'll post here any changes to this policy here – and also details of what we and our travellers have together achieved as the months progress.


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