More than 2,000 of the world’s elite traveled by plane, helicopter and chauffeured car to attend meetings in Switzerland where they waxed lyrical about the need to curb greenhouse gas emissions

DAVOS, Switzerland; January 29, 2007.- The World Economic Forum estimates that 6,700 tonnes of heat-trapping carbon dioxide was generated during its annual gathering of politicians, business leaders and academics, once travel, heating, food and shelter are tallied.

To reduce the “carbon footprint” of the Alpine event, Davos delegates have donated about US$100,000 to support clean-energy projects in rural Indonesia, World Economic Forum Managing Director Andre Schneider told Reuters on Saturday.

That sum represents an offset of nearly 70 percent of the carbon emitted over the meetings, and the final total is likely to rise in the weeks to come, he said.
Organisers have also sought this year to reduce the actual emissions at Davos, by ushering around VIP guests in limousines with carbon-efficient engines, and by using refrigerators using environmentally friendly coolants.

Schneider stressed that the meeting’s environmental efforts were more than a public relations exercise.

“Climate change is a very important topic in our meeting, and we want to show people that climate change is (present) in even the little things we do, such as going to Davos,” he said. “The idea really is to raise awareness.”

(Reuters)

 

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