Conference organisers hosting events in Liverpool will be able to compensate for their carbon impact by donating to a range of green projects across the city.
Foundation, a climate fund for the North West, has joined forces with the Liverpool Convention Bureau (LCB) in the city’s first ever partnership to offer organisers the chance to contribute towards local carbon-reduction projects.
Foundation Chief Officer, Mark Turner, explained: “Carbon emissions are unavoidable when it comes to organising and hosting large events such as conferences and we hope that this new scheme will give people the chance to compensate for the environmental impact of their events.
“The way it works is simple: Organisers using the bureau to make their bookings, who are interested in compensating for their carbon, will be asked to contribute £100 for a meeting with up to 100 delegates, ranging through to £1,000 for a big event with more than 800 guests.
“All the money will then be used to fund community projects in the Liverpool city region, such as fitting solar panels and energy efficient boilers in local halls and schools and creating new woodlands,” he added.
Carol O’Reilly, Liverpool Convention Bureau Manager, commented: “We want everyone to recognise Liverpool as an exemplary destination and green credentials are a large part of our appeal.
“The carbon compensation scheme we have launched with Foundation is a real first and something that we feel event organisers will appreciate. Whilst carbon offsetting is not a new concept, carbon compensating is a fresh way of responding and is evolving into a perfect way to encourage low carbon behaviours. Through the Convention Bureau scheme event organisers and individual delegates can work out their own footprint and contribute to local community projects – it’s a great idea.”
Since its launch in April 2009, Foundation has awarded over £140,000 to eight projects across Merseyside and is on target to save 1668 tonnes of Co2 which is the equivalent of heating over 470 homes or powering the Mersey ferries for a year.
