Working Group on Climate Neutrality

The knowledge network currently consists of 6 partner organizations. Together, as part of a CCCA working group, we are developing guidelines and standards for the climate neutrality of companies and organizations in Austria. As a think tank, we promote social and political discourse and help set the course for a climate-friendly future.

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BOKU CO2 balance

Seit 2013 erstellt das Kompetenzzentrum für Klimaneutralität die Treibhausgasbilanz der BOKU.
Diese Bilanzen sind ein wichtiges Kontroll- und Steuerungsinstrument und bilden die Grundlage für strategische Entscheidungen und Zielsetzungen im Nachhaltigkeitskontext.

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ClimCalc

Together with the Federal Environment Agency and Graz University of Technology, BOKU has developed the CO2 balancing tool "ClimCalc". A user-friendly emissions accounting tool. This open-source tool helps students and organizations of all kinds to calculate their emissions and reduce their footprint.

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making A change

„Making A Change“ ist ein Kooperationsprojekt zwischen Wissenschaft und Schule. In Zusammenarbeit mit dem CCCA (Climate Change Centre Austria) und dem Bundesministerium für Bildung, Wissenschaft und Forschung unterstützt die BOKU Schüler:innen in ganz Österreich dabei, eine Bilanz für ihre Schule zu erstellen. Darüber hinaus werden mögliche Klimaneutralitätsstrategien entwickelt.

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Forest Protection in the Colombian Rainforest / La Dorada

Forest conservation and species protection through nature conservation contracts and land purchase

The area of this nature conservation project is located in the center of Colombia, near Dorada. In order to protect the local fauna and flora, an area of 600 hectares is being developed as a model farm within the Las Mercedes project and a further 7,000 hectares are being sustainably managed in cooperation with local farmers. In the long run, sustainable management will lead to higher yields (mostly due to the introduction of an agro-forestry system with water buffalo) and ensure the protection of the forest against deforestation. Furthermore, the forest will be used for research and art purposes as a method for sustainable awareness-raising. Through this project, 12,000 tons of CO2 are stored in the Las Mercedes project every year.

Forest Protection in the Colombian Rainforest

Emissions Reduction12,000 t CO2-equivalents per year over 12 years, adherance to a risk buffer of 35%

Project DurationStart 2020, support and monitoring for 12 years

Project Costs1.250.000 €

Costs per Tonne of CO215,5 €

Situation without the ProjectDeforestation and overgrazing

GoalProtection of a 600ha core area and 7,000ha of adjacent land from deforestation. Transfer of the land into a sustainable agroforestry system (buffalo farming in the forest) with higher yields compared to the situation without the project.

Further Projects

Reforestation and Natural Reforestation in North-Gondar / Ethiopia (CONCLUDED)

BOKU Climate Mitigation Projects

Sustainable management of pastures and forests

Um den Problemen der Entwaldung in Äthiopien zu begegnen, wurde im Rahmen des BOKU Klimaschutzprojektes in Nord-Gondar ein partizipativer Prozess mit den lokalen Stakeholdern gestartet. Es wurden Aufforstungsgebiete festgelegt, die durch partizipative getroffene Übereinkünfte der Landnutzer*innen vor Beweidung geschützt werden. Das ermöglicht eine kontrollierte Aufforstung und eine natürliche Regeneration der Flächen. Dadurch wird CO2 in Form von Biomasse und im Boden gebunden. Die Flächen werden von der lokalen Bevölkerung gemeinschaftlich verwaltet. Das Ziel ist, dass in einem Zeitraum von 30 Jahren ein 30 ha großer Wald entsteht, der mindestens 5.300 Tonnen CO2 einspeichert.

Reforestation and Natural Reforestation in North-Gondar / Ethiopia (CONCLUDED)

Emissions Reduction5.300 t CO2 in 30 years

Project DurationStart 2012, monitoring for 30 years.

Project Costs131.600 €

Costs per Tonne of CO225,0 €

Situation without the ProjectDeforested region and overgrazing

GoalTransformation of 30 ha of fallow land to an unevenly-aged stable coppice forest

Accompanying research
  • Die Rolle von Saatgutausbreitung, Einfriedungen, Sträuchern
    und Bäumen in der Umgebung von Kirchen und Bauernhöfen
    für die Wiederherstellung der Ökosystemvielfalt und
    Produktivität in den Äthiopischen Highlands
  • Afforestation and Agroforestry in San Miguel / Costa Rica (fully financed)

    BOKU Climate Mitigation Projects

    Local commitment with global impact

    Tropical rainforests are the most species-rich ecosystems on earth and, at the same time, are indispensable for stabilizing the global climate. In January 2016, an area of 14.6 hectares was reforested and converted into a secondary rainforest. This will sequestrate approx. 4,400 tonnes of CO2 from the atmosphere through above-ground and underground CO2 storage and the trained local employees will ensure that the project is locally anchored. The reforestation will be organized and coordinateed by the Institute of Botany at the University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences in coordination with the Austrian Rainforest Association and the Tropical Station2 La2-storage and the trained local employees will ensure that the project is locally anchored. The reforestation will be organized and coordinated by the Institute of Botany at the University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences in coordination with the Austrian Rainforest Association and the Tropical Station La Gamba.

    Afforestation and Agroforestry in San Miguel / Costa Rica (fully financed)

    Emissions Reduction4.400 t CO2 in 30 years

    Project DurationStart 2016, monitoring for 30 years.

    Project Costs136.000 €

    Costs per Tonne of CO231,0 €

    Situation without the ProjectIncreased deforestation in the region and lack of resources for afforestation

    GoalTransfer of approx. 15 ha fallow land into a secondary rainforest

    Accompanying researchInspection of the growth strategies, the allometric relationships, the carbon seqeuestraion and the growth of the trees.

    Safe Drinking Water and Clean Air for Soroti / Uganda

    BOKU Climate Mitigation Projects

    Addressing a variety of challenges

    According to the WHO, about 70 percent of Uganda's rural population has no access to clean drinking water. Water is disinfected by cooking over open wood fires, but this also causes health problems. Many people already suffer from serious lung diseases caused by air pollutants from inefficient wood burning. Furthermore, Uganda has one of the highest deforestation rates in the world. An intact environment, clean air, and safe drinking water are, however, the prerequisites for a good life and are indispensable for education, ecological and social sustainability, and the fight against poverty.

    Innovative approaches through a broad cooperation network

    The use of solar water disinfection (SODIS method) drastically reduces the amount of firewood needed, which should save about 20,000 tonnes of CO2 in the next five years. Furthermore, this project will also counteract the development of harmful smoke in households. The cooperation between the BOKU Institute for Sanitation, Industrial Water Management and Water Pollution Control, the Water School Uganda, and the Makarere University in Kampala ensures a holistic approach to the project.

    Water disinfection by UV radiation

    Two thousand households in Soroti are being familiarized with the use of solar water disinfection (SODIS method) as part of the BOKU project. The Austrian start-up HELIOZ provides each household with a device for measuring UV radiation (WADI), which has been tested in Africa and Asia. With this device, the disinfection of drinking water can be easily checked and guaranteed. In addition to the CO2-mitigation, the project also brings additional social and ecological added value.

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    Safe Drinking Water and Clean Air for Soroti / Uganda

    Emissions Reduction20.000 t CO2 in 5 years

    Project DurationStart 2019, monitoring for 5 years.

    Project Costs329.500 €

    Costs per Tonne of CO220,0 €

    Situation without the ProjectDeforestation of forest areas, CO2-emissions from the use of firewood for drinking treated water, and health hazards due to flue gas development during wood combustion

    GoalUse of solar water disinfection (SODIS method with WADI) in 2000 households and improvement of the hygienic situation

    Accompanying research
  • Quantifizierung der Einflüsse von SODIS auf CO2 und
    Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
  • Die für SODIS notwendige Trübungsreduktion mit örtlich
    verfügbaren Mitteln
  • Decentralized Composting in Addis Ababa / Ethiopia

    BOKU Climate Mitigation Projects

    CO2-mitigation through composting of organic waste

    Untreated waste due to lack of waste separation, low recycling efforts and inadequate landfilling is a major burden on the environment and the local population. Therefore, the aim of this BOKU climate protection project in Addis Ababa is to convert about 8,000 tonnes of organic waste per year into nutrient-rich compost, reducing about 200 tonnes of CO2 annually.

    Involvement of local partners as an important success factor

    Households, waste collectors, and other local stakeholders are trained in how to separate waste into organic and other material and collect it properly. The collected organic waste is processed in a composting plant commissioned as part of the project. Trained local workers learn how to control and monitor the composting process to ensure that the compost is of good quality. The compost obtained is then sold as high-quality, regional fertilizer and offers the local actors involved an additional income and safe working conditions.

    Commitment to equal opportunities

    Through the strong involvement of single women, the project also contributes to local social empowerment. This pilot project is intended to be the starting signal for further decentralized composting projects in Ethiopia. Not least through the show garden, a network for the exchange of knowledge and experience is to be created in order to establish decentralized and low-CO2waste management in Ethiopia. In addition to sinking CO2 and improving the quality of the soil, the general nutritional situation can also be influenced.

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    Decentralized Composting in Addis Ababa / Ethiopia

    Emissions Reduction200 t CO2-eq per year

    Project DurationStart of 2016

    Project Costs35.000 € per year

    Costs per Tonne of CO265 € - Co-financed by BOKU

    Situation without the ProjectOrganic waste is not processed and generates greenhouse gas emissions

    GoalCollection and composting of about 8.000 tonnes of organic waste annually

    Reforestation and Regeneration of Local Forests in North-Gondar / Ethiopia

    BOKU Climate Mitigation Projects

    60 hectares of fallow land grow into a coppice forest

    As a successor to the successfully completed carbon sequestration project, "Afforestation and natural reforestation in North Gondar / Ethiopia" , an adjacent area was approved for reforestation. Through sustainable management of the pasture land and so-called fencing areas, 60 hectares are specifically protected from grazing and can thus grow into coppice forest.

    Local population, economy, and biodiversity benefit

    Similarly to the percussing project, separate goals are being pursued in this ongoing project in addition to the CO2carbon sink of at least 11,000 tonnes: (1) the strengthening of local economies through the availability of wood, animal feed, and additional income from "non-timber forest products" such as honey, seeds, resins, etc. (2) The natural regeneration of regionally adapted trees and (3) the increase of local biodiversity as well as water and soil protection.

    Self-determination of the village community and tree nursery program guarantee long-term success

    The village communities manage the collective forest area together in a participatory process establishing common rules for the management of the new areas. Furthermore, the project will support the development of the local tree nursery programme for seedlings of native species and local "Farmer to Farmer Training" to further contribute to the development of additional sites for fencing areas in the region and for the afforestation of further areas in the region

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    Aufforstung und Regeneration lokaler Wälder in Nord-Gondar / Äthiopien (ausfinanziert)

    Emissions Reduction11.200 t CO2-eq in 30 years

    Project DurationStart 2018, monitoring over 30 years.

    Project Costs218.000 €

    Costs per Tonne of CO219,5 €

    Situation without the ProjectDeforestation and overgrazing

    GoalConversion of 60 ha of fallow land into unequal-aged, stable coppice forest, and participatory management of pasture and forest areas