CO2Compensation
First, the shortest distance between the departure and destination airport is determined based on longitude and latitude ("great circle distance").
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The great circle distance is then multiplied by a detour factor to take holding patterns, weather conditions, etc. into account.
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For fuel consumption, we use a weighted average of the consumption of 3 aircraft types for short distances (<1,850 km) and 4 aircraft types for long distances.<1.850 km) bzw. 4 Flugzeugtypen bei Langstrecken ausgegangen.
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The calculated fuel consumption is then multiplied by the emission factor of 3.15 (according to IPCCguidelines) to obtain the amount of total CO2 emitted. We apply this factor because the combustion of one kg of fuel produces 3.15 kg of CO2.
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To determine the CO2-emissions per passenger, the average number of seats on a short-haul or long-haul aircraft, the average load factor, and a certain factor for the flight class (economy, business, first) are used.
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To take the actual climate impact of the greenhouse gases emitted into consideration, we use the Radiative Forcing Index. For this purpose, the greenhouse gas emissions are multiplied by a factor of 2.
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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.
Donations that arrive on site
Our projects bind more than 150.000 t CO2-eq and are financed by private donors, companies, and the University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences Vienna itself. More than 90 percent of the CO2-compensation funds flow directly into BOKU climate protection projects, as our staff are co-financed by the University. We issue a certificate for each donation.
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.
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
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.
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
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.
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 Austrian Development Bank (ÖEB)
- Sandra Wibmer, M.A. Austrian Development Agency (ADA)
- Dipl.-Ing. Jesús Garcia Latorre, Federal Ministry for Climate Protection, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology (BMK)
- Univ. Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Dr. Klaus Katzensteiner Cluster for Development Research (CDR), University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences Vienna
- Dipl.-Ing. Dr. Andreas Melcher Institute for Development Research (IDR), University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences Vienna
- Mag. Mag. Helene Unterguggenberger Caritas Austria
- Representative of the Environmental Department of the University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences, Vienna
- Dipl.-Ing. Sascha Mohnke Project Management Climate Neutrality, University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences Vienna
- Mag. Dominik Schmitz Head of the Competence Centre for Climate Neutrality, University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences, Vienna
