Finland will offset emissions from air travel during the Presidency of the Council of the EU. This will be achieved by funding projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and simultaneously advance sustainable development goals. Offsetting flight emissions is a concrete climate action and part of the sustainable meeting arrangements for Finland’s Presidency. The approach is driven by the need to respond to climate change and to draw attention to the climate impact of meetings.
The amount used for offsetting emissions will total approximately EUR 500 000. The Finnish Government decided to direct funds initially earmarked for Presidency gifts to offsetting greenhouse gas emissions instead.
The list of projects was updated in October 2019 to ensure sufficient emission reductions in line with Finland's criteria in offsetting air travel emissions during its Presidency.
Projects will reduce emissions across the world
The four projects that Finland will fund have a measurable effect on reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The projects generate certified emission reduction units (CER units) that adhere to both the Clean Development Mechanism of the UN Convention on Climate Change and Gold Standard. In addition, they will support the UN’s sustainable development goals and the priorities of Finland’s development policy. The projects will slow climate change and improve the health and welfare of local communities.
More efficient cook stoves emit less smoke
A project in Honduras will support the introduction of more efficient cook stoves. The project will help households and small businesses to shift from traditional firewood stoves to more efficient, less-polluting cook stoves. This will reduce deforestation and improve indoor air quality. Moreover, women and children will no longer be required to collect as much firewood and can focus on education, for example.
The project has distributed more than 160 000 improved cook stoves in Honduras, thereby cutting carbon dioxide emissions by 42 222 tonnes each year.
Hydropower produces clean energy
A hydropower project in Laos generates clean electricity, reduces emissions and supports the local economy. Using hydropower means there is less need to generate energy by burning fossil fuels. Consequently, greenhouse gas emissions decrease. The project has created job opportunities for the locals and improved the water supply. In addition, the project developer has built a temple at the request of the residents.
The project produces 83 000 megawatt hours of clean energy per year and cuts carbon dioxide emissions by an average of 46 438 tonnes annually.
Harnessing clean coastal wind to power communities
The Bac Lieu wind farm delivers clean wind electricity to the national power grid. It is the first large-scale coastal wind power project in Vietnam, generating renewable wind energy, mitigating carbon emissions and supporting local development.
The project has created over 100 steady jobs for the operation of the wind farm. It contributes to charity funds, which improve services in surrounding areas and promote regional biodiversity with tree planting activities. It also supports the local community by funding social activities, such as cultural and sporting events.
The project generates approximately 327,826 MWh of clean electricity on average annually and cuts carbon dioxide emissions by an average of 144 000 tonnes annually.
Purifying water with chlorine cuts emissions
A project in Uganda supplies chlorine dispenser systems to be used for disinfecting drinking water. Water no longer needs to be boiled, which reduces logging and time spent on collecting wood and improves indoor air quality as well. Treating water with chlorine kills viruses effectively and stops the spread of water-borne illnesses.
The project has so far given 300 000 people access to clean drinking water. It has installed 1 150 dispensers and taught communities about the dangers of contaminated water. The project reduces carbon dioxide emissions by 58 000 tonnes annually.
Projects adhere to international quality standards
The emissions will be offset through the purchase and cancellation of so-called Gold Standard certified emission reduction units (CER units) generated by the projects. The units have passed two international quality standards.
Gold Standard, a scheme established by NGOs, has verified the impact that the projects have on sustainable development. The climate impact of a CER unit has been verified by the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) of the Kyoto Protocol of the UN Convention on Climate Change.
The CER units can be transparently cancelled in an international or national emissions registry, which prevents the use of the same units more than once.
Air travel emissions will be overcompensated
It is estimated that the air travel during the Presidency will create 18 000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions. Cancelling one CER unit will offset emissions equal to one tonne of carbon dioxide. With the budget reserved for offsetting emissions, Finland will purchase 130 000 Gold Standard CER units.
Because it is difficult to estimate the exact amount of emissions, the emissions will be overcompensated for.
The emissions compensation scheme was prepared by a group of experts that includes representatives from the Prime Minister’s Office, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of the Environment, the Finnish Environment Institute and the Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra. Finland will buy the CER units generated by the projects from South Pole, an internationally known actor in the field.
Questions and answers
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Offsetting emissions means that Finland will offset the air travel emissions by delegates taking part in ministerial and working group meetings, seminars and other events in Finland and Brussels during the Finnish Presidency of the Council of the EU. Offsetting emissions will be achieved by funding projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and simultaneously advance sustainable development goals.
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Finland wants to draw attention to the climate impacts caused by meetings and follows the principles of sustainable development in all its Presidency arrangements. The approach is driven by the need to respond to climate change and to draw attention to the climate impact of meetings.
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The Presidency meetings have also been organised in a way that cuts the amount of unnecessary air travel. The number of meetings during the Presidency will be kept at a reasonable level. In addition, the meetings in Finland have been centralised in Helsinki, with no need for connecting flights. Finland also wants to develop new practices within the EU by promoting the use of video conferencing.
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It is estimated that the air travel emissions of the meetings that Finland hosts in Helsinki and Brussels will be approximately 18 000 tonnes of carbon dioxide. The estimate includes emissions caused by burning jet fuel during the flights and the emissions created in fuel production.
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Yes, offsetting the air travel emissions multiple times will cover the flights of Finnish ministers and other delegates too.
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Finland will fund four projects that reduce the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. The projects are located in Laos, Uganda, Honduras and Vietnam – all countries where climate change presents a particular challenge. The projects support the UN’s sustainable development goals by generating clean energy and reducing deforestation, for example. The projects will slow climate change and improve the health and welfare of local communities. More information about the projects.
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With the budget reserved for offsetting emissions, Finland will purchase 130,000 Gold Standard CER units. It is estimated that the air travel during the Presidency will create 18 000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions. Cancelling one CER unit in an emissions registry will offset emissions equal to one tonne of carbon dioxide.
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The projects have passed two international quality standards and have thus been approved by the UN and non-governmental organisations. The standards include tight quality criteria and the emissions reductions have been independently verified.
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The selected projects generate so-called Certified Emissions Reduction units (CER units) that also carry a Gold Standard certificate. The climate impact of a CER unit has been verified by the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) of the Kyoto Protocol of the UN Convention on Climate Change. Meanwhile, Gold Standard, a scheme established by non-governmental organisations, will ensure that the project is sustainable.
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The offsetting is achieved by purchasing Gold Standard CER units and by cancelling them in a national or international emissions registry. Cancelling the units will prevent the use of the same units more than once and ensure that the project would not have been implemented anyway. The concept of additionality is an essential requirement in projects that offset emissions. This means that a given project would not have happened without the income generated by the sale of CER units.
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Finland focused on projects that have a direct impact on emissions in its selection. The projects reduce the amount of emissions in the atmosphere by generating a large number of CER units that have been verified by the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) of the Kyoto Protocol of the UN Convention on Climate Change. The projects support the UN’s sustainable development goals. In addition, two of the projects are located in the least developed countries (Uganda and Laos) that need special support in mitigating and adjusting to climate change.
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Many countries offset the air travel emissions created by their ministers and other meeting participants. However, this is the first time that a country holding the Presidency will offset emissions on behalf of meeting participants from other countries in this scale.
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The projects selected for offsetting emissions are certified by the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) of the UN Convention on Climate Change and Gold Standard. These projects will achieve emissions reductions and measurable benefits in sustainable development. It was not possible for the Presidency to select Finnish projects, because no CDM or Gold Standard projects exist in Finland. In addition, there are currently no projects available in Finland that would comply with the other standards best suited for offsetting air travel emissions, such as the Joint Implementation (JI) of the UN Convention on Climate Change or the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS).