Climate Protection Projects
Climate protection as pioneering work
As the first and only university worldwide, the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU) implements research-oriented climate protection projects in countries of the Global South. In line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), these projects also take into account the economic and social aspects of the local population. As a result, the benefits of BOKU climate protection projects go far beyond mere CO2 offsetting
Contribution to the UN Sustainability Development Goals
For a "good life," education, economic self-determination, and social as well as ecological sustainability are essential. In addition to capturing or avoiding CO2 , BOKU climate protection projects provide further benefits by focusing on a variety of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Their fulfillment is ensured through professional evaluation and review by the scientific advisory board.
Long-term cooperation on site
The close collaboration between our project partners and local stakeholders not only strengthens participatory processes on-site but also fosters further research and educational cooperation. Numerous bachelor's and master's theses, a dissertation, and contributions to scientific journals have already been published through the BOKU climate protection projects. You can help make additional climate protection projects a success.
Money that reaches its goal
Our projects bind more than 150.000 t CO2-equivalents and are funded by individuals, businesses, and the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU) itself. At least 90 percent of the2-compensation funds go directly into the respective climate protection project.
Gulu / Uganda
- Emission Reduction 14.500 t CO2-eq in 6 years
- Goal Construction of 200 bio-gas plants for a total of 800 households and schools, and an increase in food production.
- Project Duration Start 2020, duration of 6 years
Siwalik and Gauri Sankar / Nepal
- Emission Reduction 17.700 t CO2-eq in 30 years
- Goal Reforestation of 80 ha of fallow land and establishment of agroforestry
- Project Duration Start 2016, monitoring for 30 years.
La Dorada / Colombia
- Emission Reduction 12.000 t CO2-Äquivalente jährlich über 12 Jahre
- Goal Preservation and protection of local forests through sustainable forest management and capacity development, with economic and artisanal co-benefits.
- Project Duration Start 2020, support and monitoring for 12 years
Soroti / Uganda
- Emission Reduction 20.000 t CO2-eq in 5 years
- Goal Use of solar water disinfection (SODIS method with WADI) in 2000 households and improvement of the hygienic situation
- Project Duration Start 2019, monitoring for 5 years.
North-Gondar / Ethiopia
- Emission Reduction 5.300 t CO2-eq in 30 years
- Goal Transfer of 30 ha of fallow land to an unevenly-aged stable coppice forest
- Project Duration Start 2012, monitoring for 30 years.
San Miguel / Costa Rica
- Emission Reduction 4.400 t CO2-eq in 30 years
- Goal Transfer of approx. 15 ha fallow land into a secondary rainforest
- Project Duration Start 2016, monitoring for 30 years.
Addis Ababa / Ethiopia
- Emission Reduction 200 t CO2-eq per year
- Goal Collection and composting of about 8.000 tonnes of organic waste annually
- Project Duration Start of 2016, monitoring over 6 years
The Scientific Advisory Board ensures the independent review and quality assurance of the BOKU compensation system and BOKU climate protection projects. The board was first established on March 10, 2011, with the members listed alongside. In selecting the members, care was taken to include both recognized experts from the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU) and knowledgeable external individuals. The board's work is carried out on a voluntary basis, ensuring not only the objectivity of the members but also that more than 90% of the donated funds can be directly allocated to BOKU climate protection projects.
- Susanne Boesch, M.A.I.S MBA Development Bank of Austria (OeEB)
- Dipl.-Ing. Jesús Garcia Latorre Federal Ministry for Climate Protection, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology (BMK)
- Daniel Körner, MSc Centre for Global Change and Sustainability, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna
- Univ. Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Dr. Klaus Katzensteiner Institute of Forest Ecology (IFE) University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna
- Dr. Florian Kraxner International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA)
- Mag. Martina Luger Horizont 3000
- Dipl.-Ing. Dr. Andreas Melcher Institute for Development Research (IDR), University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences Vienna
- Joachim Thaler, MA Centre for Global Change and Sustainability, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna
- Hans Christian Dworak, MSc Austrian Development Agency (ADA)
- Mag. Mag. Helene Unterguggenberger Caritas Austria
- Representative of the Environmental Department of the University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences, Vienna
The BOKU compensation system offers more than just the offsetting of greenhouse gases. The goal of the pilot projects is to establish structural and sustainable changes on-site, accompanied by research and development. The BOKU climate protection projects, selected by the advisory board, aim to provide impulses for innovative climate protection measures in the host country. These measures are intended to evolve into extensive, self-sustaining climate protection programs through collaboration between science and the local population.
To externally certify climate protection projects, substantial amounts are invested in the creation and verification of project documents, which do not directly contribute to climate protection. Depending on the standard used and the project type (such as reforestation, energy efficiency, or renewable energy), transaction costs can range from €50,000 to €500,000. Smaller projects and initiatives often cannot be implemented due to these high additional costs. For this reason, BOKU focuses on the implementation of small-scale projects that would otherwise not have the opportunity to be financed.
90-100% of the donations go directly to the climate protection projects. The support and administrative activities by employees of the competence center for climate neutrality are financed by BOKU itself. The climate protection effectiveness of the projects is ensured by quality criteria, which are checked by the independent advisory board.
The work of the BOKU-CO2compensation system is accompanied by a scientific advisory board. This Advisory Board is appointed by the Rectorate of BOKU at the suggestion of the Center for Global Change and Sustainability. Attention is paid to a mixture of BOKU members and representatives of external, relevant organizations (e.g. Austrian Development Bank and Austrian Development Agency). These members have proven competencies in the field of climate policy and CO2compensation as well as knowledge of local conditions and countries in which BOKU climate protection projects are carried out.
All projects eligible for compensation are reviewed by the advisory board. This includes not only the projects themselves but also the applied CO2methodology used and the associated calculations of the CO2 savings. All projects eligible for compensation are reviewed by the advisory board. This includes not only the projects themselves but also the applied CO
In general, the monitoring of climate protection projects focuses on the documentation, evaluation, and accounting of greenhouse gas emissions.
At BOKU, proprietary methods have been developed to calculate emissions. These methods are based on IPCC, Gold Standard, and Verified Carbon Standard. The reason for the modifications to the "classic" methods is primarily the scale of the BOKU climate protection projects. Furthermore, BOKU distinguishes between two types of projects:
- Projects carried out by BOKU in cooperation with organizations
- Here the data is collected by scientists and master theses are written
- Cooperation with other organizations such as Caritas or HELIOZ
- Here, monitoring is checked by the competence center for climate neutrality.
A unique feature that distinguishes the BOKU climate protection projects from others is the inclusion of a CO2buffer.
CO2 reductions should ideally take place where specific costs are lowest and the CO2 savings effect is highest. Due to the use of cleaner technologies, CO2 mitigation costs are generally higher in industrialized countries than in the Global South. Smaller projects and initiatives in countries with limited previous experience in implementing such projects—especially Least Developed Countries—have often been unfeasible due to high additional costs. However, these regions offer significant climate protection potential through knowledge and technology transfer, enabling the establishment of sustainable systems. The goal is to achieve high acceptance and continuous improvement of project outcomes through participatory research.
First and foremost, it is important to emphasize that climate protection projects are not tourist attractions. The BOKU climate protection projects primarily serve to preserve, support, and protect ecosystems. Therefore, the focus of these projects is on the livelihoods of the local population, nature, and ecosystems.
A visit is possible under the following conditions:
The local residents and project leaders must agree to such a visit.
