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Carbon Footprint and off-set strategies

Several people have discussed with us the really good point that we should look into off-setting the carbon footprint of our journey.

Using any one of the online calculators (for example http://www.carbonfootprint.com/results.php) we have found the impact to be fairly small.

In terms of actual costs the online sites generally indicate in the region of a £50 donation to local projects would cover the contribution. Below is an extract from an online calculator using 25,000 miles (with a 1,200 cc small car as the indices - it was the closest I could find to the motorcycle!)

  Your household CO2 (kg) Your personal share of CO2 (kg) UK average household CO2 (kg) UK average CO2 per person (kg)
Private Car   5,756
 
2,600 1,083
Total Primary Footprint   5,756
 
12,034 5,013
  Your household CO2 (kg) Your personal share of CO2 (kg) UK average household CO2 (kg) UK average CO2 per person (kg)
Gas, coal and oil 0
 
0
 
3,876 1,615
Electricity 0
 
0
 
3,127 1,303
Private Car   0
 
2,600 1,083
Public Transport   0
 
869 362
Holiday Flights   5,000
 
1,562 651
Total Primary Footprint   5,000
 
12,034 5,013
         
Food and Drink   585 * 1,404 585
Clothes and Shoes   486 * 1,166 486
Car Manufacture   715 * 1,716 715
Buildings, Furniture and Appliances     982 * 2,358 982
Recreation and Services   1,546 * 3,711 1,546
Finance and other services   361 * 865 361
Share of Public Services   1,276 *  3,062 1,276
Total Secondary Footprint   5,950 * 14,282 5,950
TOTAL FOOTPRINT   10,950
 
26,316 10,963

N.B. The above figures cover mileage and air flights from Australia to South America and Canada to the UK.

We had already decided (early on) to link up with local projects within the cultures we would be passing through.

By this linking with, for example, local motorcycle clubs, organisations and media, we would be involving them in this event at a local level - which was always a primary aim of the journey.

To Quote Cathy directly, “We have always thought it would a tremendous opportunity for clubs and organisations to organise an event (such as a social evening or bike ride) in aid of the charities working with sight impaired people in their host country. Our aim is to make this a truly worldwide event that progresses across the globe throughout the journey. Each country has specific needs which are best understood at a local level and through the organisations concerned. There is a list of them on our website with details of how to make contact."

Thus there is a tremendous opportunity to generate interest and funds for the local organisations as we pass through the continents.

We felt this would more than off-set our journey through the funds this will inevitably generate at this local level.  Our thanks to people who have emailed us about this important consideration.

Best Wishes

Bernard Smith

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 In Association with:Picture of Catherine sitting at 8,900 feet in the French Alps. This picture can be found in the main picture gallery.

Link for Just Giving to sponsor CathyLink to Guide Dogs                                                                      Link to Action for Blind People      

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