Carbon Offset option now available for flights to Polar Regions

June 15, 2014 - PRLog -- Quark Expeditions®, the leader in polar adventures, announces another addition to the company’s long list of polar “firsts.” Passengers can now select to pay a nominal fee to offset their flights to the Polar Regions.

In collaboration with the CarbonNeutral® Company in the UK, Quark Expeditions® now offers passengers a pay-as-you-fly carbon offsetting program for international and domestic flights. Carbon dioxide emissions from burning fossil fuels are the largest source of climate-altering greenhouse gas emissions.For only £36 per person, those travelling with Quark can request to have this option easily added to their booking, to help offset the carbon dioxide emissions of their flights to the Polar Regions.

“By choosing this option, you will be helping the environment by offsetting the equivalent of 5 tons of CO2 emissions. This is the equivalent of 16,281 car miles or 57 car trips from London to Paris,” said Hans Lagerweij, president of Quark Expeditions®.

Quark is committed to the preservation of the Polar Regions and ensuring they remain pristine for generations to come. Quark was the first Polar operator to offer carbon neutral voyages to Antarctica on its ship, Ocean Diamond at no additional cost to passengers and also offsets all their staff air travel. In addition, Quark uses low-emission marine gas oil (MGO) on its ships, as well as eco-friendly laundry chemicals and cabin amenities, and provides every passenger with a reusable water bottle instead of plastic bottles. These offset initiatives, launched during the 2012/13 Antarctic season, will continue through 2014/15 and support four different projects around the world.

Carbon Neutral Projects Selected

Zhangjiakou Wind Power Project
Located in Hubei Province, China, this Gold Standard project consists of 33 x 1.5 MW wind turbines to supply zero-emissions renewable electricity to the North China Power Grid.

Acre Amazonian Rainforest Conservation Project

The project aims to prevent deforestation in 35,000 hectares of pristine rainforest in Brazil’s Acre state, home to the Amazon basin and some of the world’s most biologically diverse habitats.

Uganda Community Reforestation Project

The Uganda Community Reforestation Project organizes hundreds of small community-based reforestation activities on lands owned by subsistence farmers, combining sustainable development with carbon sequestration. The project has been validated to the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) and Climate, Community, and Biodiversity (CCB) Standard.

Buenos Aires LFG to Energy Project

The project reduces greenhouse gas emissions by capturing landfill gas from the landfill site for conversion into electricity, and improves the quality of life for those in the surrounding neighborhood.

For more information visit www.quarkexpeditions.com or call 0808 120 2333

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Thursday, 12 June 2014