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November 23, 2005: Conference Organizers Take Measures to Reduce Delegates' Emissions in Montreal

Canada

Embassy, November 23rd, 2005

FEATURE

By Sarah McGregor

Conference Organizers Take Measures to Reduce Delegates' Emissions in Montreal

Eco-friendly transport, recycled paper, and composting leftovers are just some ways the COP MOP is attempting to make an influx of over 10,000 conference-goers more environmentally sustainable

It's with some distress over their own environmental footprint that 10,000 delegates from around the globe will converge in Montreal on Monday to brainstorm more meaningful ways to deal with climate change.

"I think it's on everyone's mind," says Emilie Moorhouse, Energy and Atmosphere Campaigner with the Sierra Club of Canada. "But we're going with our sights set on the future to reduce reliance on fossil fuels. The hope is that this conference will begin large changes to society that would facilitate us in a more sustainable manner."

Environment Canada says the future is here -- its guests are being treated to a "carbon neutral" event.

The main attraction is the two-week United Nations Climate Change Conference, the first meeting of the parties since Kyoto Protocol came into effect. Its central challenge is to assess if an international environmental pact is possible to achieve when Kyoto's national greenhouse gas emission-reduction targets expire in 2012.

The unavoidable consequence of any large-scale gathering is increased energy use. In Montreal, the bulk will be produced by long-distance airline flights and hotel electricity use over the two-week event. Naturally, environmentally-minded participants are concerned their actions may intensify the release of carbon dioxide and other harmful gases -- believed to be a major contributor to rising world temperatures.

"Any time you get 10,000 people at one event there is bound to be a footprint," says Berny Latreille, director of the Environmental Affairs Division at Environment Canada. "Despite your best efforts you can't totally eliminate the impact, but we're being as green as possible."

Organizers estimate the conference will generate an estimated 10,000 to 12,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent; about the same amount as many 3,000 average vehicles produce annually.

More than 95 per cent will be attributable to the burning of fossil fuel from international air travel and only about one per cent on domestic trips.

Power consumption -- from lights to heaters -- will comprise the remaining five per cent, approximately. The use of energy at the venues, road travel between hotels and conference sites, as well as garbage disposal and wastewater treatment are expected to cause negligible effects.

The lion's share of harmful environmental factors will be offset through investing in emissions-reduction credits, says Mr. Latreille. In addition, hundreds of tonnes will be shaved off with the adoption of innovative "green measures."

Canada has agreed to offset carbon credits required to cover the accommodation and flights of every delegate, valued at almost $100,000. The carbon credits, worth between $7-$8 each, will be coming from a wind project in Alberta, supported by the Pembina Institute, says Mr. Latreille. (Canada is not claiming the purchase toward its Kyoto target.)

The Canadian government calls it a "leadership measure" and is asking industrialized nations to make the same investment in its own delegates. "You can use a calculator tool from the Internet, where you feed in the number of delegates and it will tell you the total tonnes," says Mr. Latreille. National governments uncomfortable with a do-it-yourself approach to the number crunching can ask Canada for advice, he says. "We are starting to get a positive response."

In addition, delegates arriving to Montreal will notice almost immediately the so-called "green meeting strategy."

For instance, Montreal's Pierre Elliott Trudeau airport has an 'anti-idling' policy which downtown hotels and conference venues are adopting for the duration of the conference. Environment Canada has conducted training courses for taxi drivers on how to drive cleaner, such as keeping tires properly inflated to save gas.

The conference's own fleet to transport delegates around the city consists of 35 bio-diesel buses, each with a 56-person capacity, and 10 small shuttles, that can fit 21 passengers each. For the same purpose, General Motors is lending 12 Chevrolet Impalas, which run off a blend of 85 per cent ethyl alcohol and 15 per cent gasoline, known as E85. This fuel emits fewer emissions than traditional petroleum-based fuels. A Canadian company, Iogen, is hauling a truckload of E85 onsite as regular gas stations don't carry the special fuel. Finally,12 Toyota Prius hybrid cars are available for small groups.

In terms of accommodation, many delegates are staying in the 50 downtown hotels within walking distance of the conference centres, and the others are encouraged to use Montreal's vast subway and bus network to get around.

Participants are encouraged to access conference programs online from any of the conveniently located 450 computer terminals -- Star Energy certified.

A minimal amount of information on (recycled) paper and printed with environmentally-friendly inks are being distributed, and in most cases only available on demand.

Recycling receptacles for papers and plastics will be placed in all conference meeting places, and emptied regularly. "If they get full people tend to start throwing things out," says Mr. Latreille.

The main catering company and several large concession stands are using washable glassware, flatware and glasses. The small food stalls are serving food and drinks in disposal dishware made of recycled material. Organizers are still hoping to sign a deal that would see scrap food composted. Local shelters will enjoy any leftover meals.

For general energy use, Mr. Latreille also points out that much of Quebec's power is generated by hydro-electricity which doesn't generate greenhouse gas emissions.

Mr. Latreille says a performance review after the conference will determine the costs and benefits of the extra "green" measures. He hopes to share the results of the test project with other governments and conference organizers around the world. Environment Canada plans to publish a guide on how to create a carbon-neutral large-scale event.

"If you take the time to plan, it doesn't need to cost more money. A lot of it comes down to knowledge and culture. We think that this can become mainstream and we want to help," says Mr. Latreille.

Ms. Moorhouse says there needs to be a seismic societal shift toward environmental sustainability worldwide, but that the conference is one step in the right direction.

"I do believe that it is one of the conferences that there is more heightened awareness of that. But we still have a long way to go," says Ms. Moorhouse.

http://www.embassymag.ca/html/index.php?display=story&full_path=/2005/november/23/emissions/

Topic(s): climate news, Energy News, Pollution and Waste News, Sustainable Business, Sustainable Living News, Tourism News, Transportation News

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