Not only is it slashing the amount of CO2 its
trucks emit, Transforce Bulk Haulage is voluntarily paying a carbon tax
to cover the emissions that it has yet to reduce.
Owner Steve Fieldus has just completed the last requirements for certification
under the National Carbon Offset Standard, a voluntary program run by Low
Carbon Australia, a Commonwealth Government agency.
The process took 10 months. "First we
had to measure the company’s carbon footprint, then Steve decided how much of
his emissions he could eliminate in the first year,” says Louisa Kiely of
Carbon Farmers of Australia (CFA) who managed the process for Transforce.. “This
left a gap that we couldn’t fill with savings this coming year. So Steve
purchased offsets on the voluntary market,” In this case he contributed to a
project for farmers in Africa.
"I wanted to buy offsets from
Australian farmers - especially soil carbon offsets - but they aren't available
yet. Hopefully next year," he says. “A lot of my customers are farmers and we want to support them because
we believe that they can make a huge impact on Global Warming.” He was inspired by attending the annual Carbon Farming Conference and the
vision put forward by CFA, a farmer-led organisation that believes those
leading scientists who believe that massive increases in photosynthesis on the
world's farmland can stall global warming long enough for the world to make the
shift to low carbon energy sources. (Steve is presenting at this year’s Carbon
Farming Conference In Dubbo, 23-24 October)
Steve is convinced that the world will be a
safer place for his 4 children and grandchildren if other companies follow his
lead. "There's a lot of debate about climate change - who knows what's
right, but if the majority of the world's recognized scientists are right, we
had better have done something."
Steve wants the Government to consider his
voluntary approach to reducing emissions verses the plan to phase out the
diesel rebate scheme in 2014. Transforce is using the twin strategies of engine
technology upgrades and driver incentives to deliver reductions in fuel usage
and carbon emissions each year. In the meantime, Steve believes he will impress
his customers and prospects with his feat. "It's a win/ win for our
customers, for our business and for the kids of the future," he says.
www.carbonfarmingconference.com.au
*Many
transport companies have gone some way towards neutralising their carbon
emissions, particularly in Europe, but no bulk haulage company is reported to
have achieved it yet with their entire operation.
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