Carbon offset projects

Intrepid recognises that climate change is one of the most urgent problems facing our world today. The tourism industry is impacted by climate change, but it's also a growing contributor to the problem. As a travel company, we see it as our responsibility to sustain our environment and to minimise the negative impact we have on global warming. That’s why we made a commitment to tackle climate change through the development of our Carbon Management Plan.

As part of our Carbon Management Plan, we offset the carbon emissions from our global business offices and the emission created on all our trips. Through these offsets, significant monetary contributions are made on behalf of our business, suppliers, staff and travellers to internationally certified carbon abatement projects. Since 2010, those contributions have equated to over AU$1.6 million.

We invest in a range of carbon reduction programs. Our current portfolio includes:

Reforestation (REDD+) project in Kenya

Deforestation accounts for around 18% of global carbon emissions. The REDD+ mechanism (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) was introduced by the United Nations as a climate change mitigation strategy.

This project builds on Wildlife Works' first REDD project in Kenya, which has been protecting forests and vulnerable wildlife – such as the African Elephant, African hunting dog and Grevy’s zebra – since 2006.

The aim of this new, larger project is to bring the benefits of direct carbon financing to communities in Kenya, while simultaneously addressing alternative livelihoods and protecting vital flora and fauna.

Human-wildlife conflict has been a problem in the past, as local people are reliant on the environment as a means for subsistence. This project directly addresses sources of conflict using a holistic, sustainable approach on a large scale.

This project is classed as a ‘mega project’, and is estimated to reduce over 1 million tonnes of carbon emissions per year.

Forestry Protection in Tasmania, Australia

This project protects native forest that will be logged in the absence of carbon finance in the Australian state of Tasmania. Protecting forests from timber harvesting reduces emissions and maintains the forest carbon stock. It also protects the rich biodiversity of Tasmania’s natural forests, which are a hotspot for many native Australian species including the Tasmanian wedge-tailed eagle, rainbow lorikeet, Tasmanian devil, spotted-tail quoll and the albino wallaby.

This project is estimated to reduce 150,000 tonnes of carbon emissions per year.

Reducing harmful indoor smoke from cooking.

Cookstove Project in Rwanda

In rural Rwanda, 98% of households rely on wood as their main cooking fuel. As well as reducing greenhouse gas emissions and taking the pressure off local woodlands and wildlife, the distribution of fuel-efficient cook stoves reduces the amount of harmful smoke and indoor air pollution.

The project is estimated to reduce 140,000 tonnes of carbon emissions.

Wind Farm Project in the USA

The Dempsey Ridge 132-megawatt wind power project consists of the installation of 66 turbines on approximately 7,500 acres of agricultural and grazing land in Oklahoma. The project's intent is to generate electricity from renewable sources, displacing power that otherwise would have been procured from the grid.

The project is estimated to reduce 312,658 tonnes of carbon emission per year.

Wind Farm Project in Turkey

Located in the Balykesir province of Turkey, this Gold Standard wind farm project involves the installation of 20 wind power turbines with a total capacity of 30 megawatts. The expected annual electricity generation is 109.9 gigawatt hours.

This project is estimated to reduce 71,710 tonnes of carbon emissions per year.