Sustainability

Through an ambitious sustainability agenda, Future Earth, Belmont Forum, and Future Earth Australia are aiming to make SRI2021 a “carbon minimalist” event. We approach sustainability in a holistic way, considering every aspect of the convening. SRI2021 Sustainability Report will be released and made publicly available after the event. This report will be used as a guidance for the planning of future SRI convenings.

Virtual Participation

To make the first convening of SRI2021 more accessible, cut down on the need to travel and make it safe and engaging for participants, the event will be streamed live around the world. An engaging program that offers participants an engaging experience is a priority, and offers SRI a unique opportunity to take a leading role in designing global events of the future. 

Partners

We have partnered with ClearSky Climate Solutions to assess the event’s overall carbon footprint. Based on an emissions analysis, we will purchase offsets for the conference through ClearSky Climate Solutions and benefit an environmental community project in Panama and Wisconsin, USA:

Native Species Reforestation and Restoration in Panama

You will support the reforestation of degraded and abandoned cattle pastures in the pacific lowlands of Panama. These lowland rainforest areas had been logged, farmed, and grazed extensively over the past 200 years. With your support native species will be planted in the rainforest. Beyond sequestering CO2, this reforestation project helps to reduce soil erosion, provides habitat and migratory corridors for native flora and fauna, and protects water sources including coastal mangrove forests. This project also addresses several social concerns in the project area, by reversing the trend of rural-to-urban migration, improving the socio-economic conditions of workers, mostly indigenous people and women, and building capacities among these communities.

Gordondale Dairy Methane Capture Project (Wisconsin, USA)

Methane is a potent greenhouse gas which has 21 times the greenhouse warming potential of CO2. Prior to this project the animal waste (from up to 875 cows) was stored in an open-air lagoon. With the current project cow manure is fed into an anaerobic digester, which processes the manure and collects methane gas, which is then burned as an alternative energy source. This leads to a significant reduction in the methane emissions from this facility. Beyond sequestering CO2, this project contributes to the development and implementation of green technology, generates clean and renewable energy, improves the air and water quality, and creates green-collar jobs related to manure and nutrient management, digester construction, and project auditing.

The emission reduction credits we are supporting have been certified and verified by an external, 3rd-party auditor.

We have included USD10 in the registration cost to cover carbon offset for all participants – whether they are participating online or onsite.