Carbon Neutral Offset Program!

Program Overview
SCUP has been working with the Higher Education Associations Sustainability Consortium (HEASC) and its coordinating agent, Second Nature, to create a program for conference attendees in which they can offset the enormous amount of carbon dioxide emissions that will result from their travel to and from the conference. As you may know, CO2 and other greenhouse gas emissions are a significant cause of global climate change.

We are pleased to announce our Carbon Neutral Offset program in partnership with the nonprofit organization, Carbonfund.org. Carbon Neutral Offset will allow attendees to purchase certified "carbon offsets" for $25.00. One hundred percent of the donation will go directly towards reducing CO2 emissions through investments in clean renewable energy, increased energy efficiency, or carbon sequestration (i.e., planting trees).

Make your $25.00 donation the same time you register by checking the box, "Carbon Neutral Donation," on your registration form. Your donation will help to offset the greenhouse gas emissions that result from your travel to and from the conference. Alternatively, you can visit the Carbonfund.org website to make an online donation.

Why Donate?
When you attend a conference, CO2 and other greenhouse gases are emitted into the atmosphere from air and car travel as well as heating and cooling and electricity use at your hotel and at the venue hosting the event.

The good news is that these emissions can be "neutralized" by purchasing carbon offsets that will go towards projects such as the Bishop Ranch Solar Project in California, the Highmore Wind Farm in South Dakota, or planting trees in the Ozark National Forest. By contributing towards projects that produce or support clean energy or those that sequester CO2 (e.g., tree planting), you will offset a significant amount of the emissions that result from your travel to and from the conference.

How to Make Donations
Register for SCUP—43 and select "Carbon Neutral Donation" on the registration form.

OR

To make an online donation, go to: Carbonfund.org and click on the Contribute Now! link, which will take you to the donations page.

Thank you for participating in the Carbon Neutral Offset program!

Other Things You Can Do

  • Participate in the hotel's linen program by electing not have your sheets and towels changed daily.
  • Reduce the amount of water used for bathing or showering.
  • When you leave your hotel room, turn off the AC/heat, lights, TV, and radio. Close the drapes.
  • Participate in hotel recycling programs by placing recyclables in appropriate bins.
  • Take only the brochures or maps necessary. Return others to the brochure stand.
  • Take only photographs. Do not take "souvenirs" from natural areas, historical areas or hotels.
  • Leave only footprints. Take everything out that you brought with you. No graffiti. No litter.
  • Visit www.climatecrisis.net/takeaction/whatyoucando/ for information about what you can do at home and in the office.

Other Things SCUP Is Doing

  • Eliminate mass mailing of registration materials by using an online registration process.
  • Reduced number of pages in preliminary program from 40 to 16 pages for the annual international conference.
  • Electronic press releases.
  • Eliminate presentation handouts. Links to the handouts are available on the website post-conference.
  • Limit number of items in registration bags and eliminate use of paper as much as possible.

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