Climate protection as pioneering work
The University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences Vienna is the first and only university worldwide to implement research-oriented climate mitigation projects in countries in the Global South. In line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), we aim to focus on the social value of the mitigation activities we conduct. Thus, the benefits of BOKU climate mitigation measures go far beyond the compensation of CO2 .
Contribution to the UN Sustainability Development Goals
To lead a "good life", education, economic self-determination, and social and ecological sustainability are indispensable. In addition to binding or preventing CO2 , BOKU mitigation projects also entail further benefits thanks to their focus on several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Their fulfillment is guaranteed through professional evaluation and review by the scientific advisory board.
Long-term cooperation on site
The close contact between our project sponsors and local actors not only strengthens participatory processes on-site but also allows for further research and teaching cooperation. A number of bachelor and diploma theses, dissertations, and articles entries in scientific journals have already been published based on data and results from the BOKU climate mitigation projects. These can help with the successful implementation of further mitigation measures and further ambitious projects.
Geld, das ankommt
Unsere Projekte binden mehr als 150.000 t CO2-Äquivalente und werden von Privatpersonen, Unternehmen und der Universität für Bodenkultur Wien selbst finanziert. Mindestens 90 Prozent der CO2-Kompensationsgelder fließen direkt in das jeweilige Klimaschutzprojekt. Für jede Kompensationszahlung geben wir ein Zertifikat aus.
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 is responsible for the independent assessment and quality assurance of the BOKU compensation system and the BOKU climate protection projects. The Advisory Board was assembled for the first time on March 10th 2011 by the members listed below. When appointing the members, care was taken to ensure that both proven experts from the University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences Vienna, as well as external experts, were included. The work of the advisory board is done on a voluntary basis. This not only ensures the objectivity of the members but also ensures that more than 90% of the donated money can be used directly for BOKU climate mitigation projects.
- Susanne Boesch, M.A.I.S MBA Österreichische Entwicklungsbank (OeEB)
- Enrico Dal Farra, MSc. Austrian Development Agency (ADA)
- Dipl.-Ing. Jesús Garcia Latorre Federal Ministry for Climate Protection, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology (BMK)
- Dr. Thomas Lindenthal Zentrum für Globalen Wandel und Nachhaltigkeit, Universität für Bodenkultur Wien
- Univ. Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Dr. Klaus Katzensteiner Cluster for Development Research (CDR), University of Natural Resources and Applied 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
- Dipl.-Ing. Sascha Mohnke Zentrum für Globalen Wandel und Nachhaltigkeit, Universität für Bodenkultur Wien
- Mag. Stefan Ropac WWF
- 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 compensation for greenhouse gases. The aim of the pilot projects, accompanied by research and development, is to establish structural and sustainable changes on site. The BOKU climate protection projects selected by the advisory board aim to provide impulses for innovative climate protection measures in the host country, which will subsequently become extensive, self-sustaining climate protection programs through cooperation between science and the local population.
In order to certify climate protection projects externally, considerable sums are invested in the creation and verification of project documents that do not directly benefit climate protection. Depending on the standard used and the type of project (whether afforestation, energy efficiency, renewable energy), transaction costs of between €50,000 and €500,000 must be incurred. Smaller projects and initiatives often cannot be realized due to the high additional costs. For this reason, the focus of BOKU is on the implementation of small 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 that are eligible for compensation are checked by the advisory board. Attention is paid to the projects themselves, as well as to the CO2methodology used and the associated calculations of the CO2saved. In addition, a number of social and ecological criteria are used in project selection and implementation, which are also checked by the advisory board.
- 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.
CO2 reductions should sensibly occur where the specific costs are lowest and the CO2 saving effect is highest. CO2 avoidance costs are generally higher in industrialized countries than in countries of the Global South due to the use of clean technologies. Smaller projects and initiatives in countries that have only carried out a few projects up to now, especially Least Developed Countries, often could not be realized due to the high additional costs. It is precisely there that knowledge and technology transfer can achieve a major climate protection effect and establish sustainable systems. The aim is to achieve a high level of acceptance through participatory research and thus a permanent improvement in the project results.
First of all, it has to be said that climate protection projects are not tourism attractions. BOKU's climate protection projects primarily serve to preserve, support and protect ecosystems. Therefore, the areas of life of the local population, nature and ecosystems are the focus of BOKU climate protection projects.
A visit is possible under the following conditions:
The people living on site and the project leaders agree to such a visit.
