Air travel in 2022
Some initial offsetting projects were selected at the end of 2023, with these projects slated to offset the emissions caused by air travel in 2022 (3,011 metric tons of CO2eq). In addition to the basic, internationally recognized offsetting project criteria, the following aspects were taken into consideration when the projects were selected:
- Technology, project year and quality of information regarding the basic international criteria for offsetting
- Preference was given to Swiss projects and projects in regions where the University of Bern conducts research
- Wherever possible, preference was given to projects that address other sustainability targets in addition to the reduction of CO2eq
These criteria were used to select the following projects from the list of projects available:
- The two Swiss projects.
- One cooking stove project in Kenya was selected because the University of Bern conducts research in Kenya. This project is also incorporated into a higher-level project, gets the citizens involved and – by establishing savings groups – creates additional opportunities to promote sustainable development in the corresponding regions through CO2eq reductions and the cooking stoves.
Brief description of the offsetting projects selected:
Biogas, Switzerland
Farming operations produce large amounts of slurry and manure, which release methane during fermentation. If animal excrement is stored in open containers, the gases produced escape uncontrolled into the atmosphere. Since methane is a much more potent greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide, it offers enormous potential with respect to climate protection. Through the project, innovative farming operations are provided with small biogas plants capable of making use of and controlling the fermentation processes in order to collect the methane produced as biogas and use it to generate electricity or heat.
While Switzerland holds enormous potential when it comes to recovering energy and nutrients from farmyard manure, making this economically viable is difficult; that is where the proceeds from the sale of offset certificates can help.
Certificate providers: SwissClimate, quantity: 625 metric tons CO2
Methane reduction, Switzerland
The climate protection project helps reduce the amount of methane produced by milk cows in Switzerland by around 9 percent. This is achieved through the use of a mineral feed supplement that improves the cows’ digestion and reduces their methane emissions.
Without the project, the feed would have to be sold at a substantially higher price (approx. 15-20%). The product would not be marketable with a price tag that high. Purchasing the certificates makes it possible for farmers to buy the climate-friendly feed at the same price as a standard feed (that offers no climate benefits).
Certificate providers: SwissClimate, quantity: 385 metric tons CO2
Swiss Climate – reduction of methane emissions from Swiss dairy herds
Cooking stoves, Kenya
Traditionally, people in the rural communities of the Siaya District of western Kenya do their cooking on open fires, which consumes huge amounts of firewood. Thanks to community savings and loaning (CSL) groups, however, women can now afford more efficient stoves. These stoves need 40-50 percent less firewood and are made by local craftspeople using materials available locally. The savings groups strengthen women’s financial and social independence as well since they also make it possible to finance other things including school tuition, health benefits, seeds, etc.
Additional effects include training local craftspeople to produce and install efficient stoves, training households to use and maintain the stoves correctly, campaigns among the population to raise awareness about renewable energies and energy efficiency to ensure that the energy-saving stoves are used over the long term, which will not only help reduce emissions but also improve people’s health since these stoves prevent smoke from forming.
Certificate providers: MyClimate, quantity: 2,001 metric tons CO2
Savings groups enable women to afford an efficient cook stove in Kenya | myclimate Switzerland