Launching in 2021, was a partnership between Starboard SUP and the International Canoe Federation (ICF). With the aim to reduce the environmental impact and improve the environmental efforts of the ICF. Working together to implement actions that will help our planet heal.
Starboard now commits to supporting all ICF events from 2021 to 2024. Helping all ICF World disciplines to become climate neutral and SUP Worlds will become 10 times climate positive. Starboard will be assessing every event in terms of the carbon dioxide (and equivalent) emissions from attendees travelling to and from each event, as well as all electricity emissions from the event. Once we understand the events carbon footprint we can then work on ways to reduce and offset it using nature-based solutions, specifically by planting mangroves.
An Imbalance of Greenhouse Gases
Greenhouse gases are not necessarily the issue. We need a good balance of them to keep our planet in a liveable condition. However, an imbalance of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere is leading to what is called the greenhouse effect. The gases absorb heat energy and prevent it from escaping back to space, therefore warming up our planet. There is a clear correlation between increasing CO2 levels and rising global average temperatures, which have both increased since the start of the Industrial Revolution in the 18th century. This relationship between CO2 and increasing temperatures is why we need to do everything we can to restore this carbon dioxide using nature-based solutions and reduce the amount we emit.
What do you need from me as an attendee?
Each of us has a part to play in the fight against climate change. Furthermore, we are all affected by the increase in CO2 emissions and the impact it has on our planet. We ask every person who is attending any ICF Worlds event to complete a simple form, regarding travel to and from the event. Additionally, this detail will include how many Kilometres you’ve travelled overland, and which airports you stopped at throughout your whole journey. The more detail we receive from you, the more accurate our Carbon Footprint calculations will be. Ensuring we can plant as many trees as we need to! We do, however, add 10% to all our calculations as a margin for error. Using the calculated results, Starboard will calculate how many mangroves need to be planted to absorb the emissions of the event.
Why Mangroves?
Mangroves are great CO2 absorbers, absorbing 1 tonne of CO2 within the first 20 years of their life. Furthermore, the benefits of mangroves also help biodiversity flourish within and surrounding the planted area.
Starboard plant their mangroves with Worldview International Foundation (WIF), based in Myanmar. Reforesting an area where mangrove trees once flourished but due to farming or fuel needs, have been in rapid decline. WIF has created projects that support the local communities to make money through planting and caring for mangroves, whilst also giving them alternative ways to live without cutting down these precious trees. More information can be found in this article by Starboard Blue.
Learn more on this great video from WIF, with words spoken by Co-Founder Dr Arne Fjortoft.https://waterdrop.no/portfolio/thor-heyerdahl-climate-parks/
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