charter on sustainable and responsible tourism and travel

C. CO2 OFFSET PROGRAM aND PROJECTS

The principle

As part of our effort to combat climate change, Samui Villas & Homes has implemented a voluntary CO2 offset program inviting our villa guests, villa owners and employees to participate.

This program is meant to encourage all parties to voluntarily compensate their impact (by flying, use of ground transportation and use of electricity) on the natural environment by offsetting the amount of carbon dioxide (Co2) created, into projects which aim at reducing the equivalent amount of CO2.

Carbon Reducing Projects

The United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) has launched a major worldwide tree planting campaign. Under the Plant for the Planet: Billion Tree Campaign, people, communities, business and industry, civil society organizations and governments are encouraged to join with the global objective of planting at least one billion trees worldwide each year to combat the rapid development of deforestation.
According to UNEP, the loss of natural forests around the world contributes more to global emissions each year than the transport sector. Curbing deforestation is said to be a highly cost-effective way to reduce emissions.
As we believe this is a worthy cause, our Group of Companies has pledged to use the offset to plant trees in accordance with ‘Plant for the Planet’.

Carbon Footprint and Offsetting

We have started to trace and document SVH-PVH’s carbon footprint for its business:

Flight information for all employees going on business trips
Car mileage for all employees
Electricity information for all villas and offices is now being collected in order to measure our carbon emissions.

For our villa guests: “Offset Your Travel & Stay:

Our villa guests can choose to offset either of, or both actions below:

1. Offset your flights to Thailand and Samui
2. Offset your stay

Should our guests decide to help and make a difference, they will be issued a certificate stating that their carbon offset will support a UNEP acknowledged Tree Planting Agency in their effort to plant more trees. Their name will be also be added to our list of supporters on our web site if they choose so.

Community Projects:

SVH-PVH Group of Companies will also continue to support community projects and events on an ad hoc basis. We will use money from our recycling to fund such projects.

• Planting trees to balance CO2 and GHG emissions and restore the ecosystem - Funded through the program and other environmental organizations.

• Funding the change of standard light bulbs in schools in Samui to low watt energy light bulbs.

• Support projects aiming at replacing fossil fuel energy for solar panels.

• Support local initiatives and businesses which will make products based on recycled materials.

• Support projects that focus on reducing fossil fuels (CO2) and GHG emissions.

Education and Information:

We will continue to provide general information (via brochures and website) on issues such as:

• Recycling:
Encourage schools and Samui businesses to establish a recycling system.
Encourage participation and donations to Samui Eco Program's special recycling program which will support local businesses who wish to create products based on recycled materials.

• Water Conservation: How to reduce and reuse water.

• Use of Bio Diesel: Urge for Business cooperation on the use of Bio Diesel

• Low energy appliances: Information about possibilities and costs

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