Contact, Dorothy McIntosh dmcintosh@uk.mercycorps.org tel.+44(0)131 550 8900

Cool Carbon - Putting a human face to carbon emissions

Mercy Corps, an international development charity, has recently launched 'Cool Carbon' (www.mercycorps.org.uk/coolcarbon) a new online initiative where people can calculate their carbon emissions and offset them by supporting a project that will make a real tangible difference to the lives of individuals living in some of the world's most vulnerable countries.

'Cool Carbon' allows both individuals and businesses to support a range of renewable energy projects in countries that are already being affected by climate change. Individuals can invest as little as £3 whereas businesses interested in voluntary offsets can support larger scale projects such as micro-hydros in Colombia, solar water heaters or bio-diesel conversion plants in Bosnia.

The immediate aim of 'Cool Carbon' is to raise a total of £200,000 to fund seven pilot Mercy Corps projects that address both the issues of climate change and poverty reduction in the Congo, Bosnia, Colombia and Kosovo. The long term aim of 'Cool Carbon' will be to scale up these carbon reducing projects within each country and to reach other communities in the developing world with similar needs.

Three examples of the projects that Cool Carbon supports:

The Congo - Fuel-efficient stoves This project helps women in the Congo, a country that is slowly emerging from years of conflict. The fuel-efficient stoves that Mercy Corps are providing reduces the amount of time these women spend collecting wood in the forests, where they are at high risk of violence and sexual predication. The amount of wood needed for fuel decreases, meaning less time needs to be spent on collection, lower rates of deforestation and a reduction in the amount of carbon emitted.

Bosnia - Bio-diesel from waste cooking oil Mercy Corps is setting up a biodiesel conversion plant in Tuzla, Bosnia, that will not only provide jobs but also reduce major pollution and sewerage problems. Waste cooking oil from factories and restaurants is currently clogging the sewer system. This project will fund the recycling of that cooking oil to provide clean, cheaper fuel for the town's buses.

Colombia - Biogas latrines for internal refugees Mercy Corps is providing biogas latrines to refugees in conflict-prone Colombia, in order to address the lack of water and sanitation facilities in urban slums. These practical, low-cost biogas digesting latrines that will be given to the communities will reduce both health problems and local greenhouse gas emissions.

'Cool Carbon' is unique as it avoids the heavy monitoring costs of traditional carbon offsetting projects. The money donated through 'Cool Carbon' will be spent directly on tackling poverty, while being managed by a leading global aid organisation. 'Cool Carbon' donors will be able to track where and how their money has been spent, reaching people who need it most.

For further information on the Cool Carbon projects log on to www.mercycorps.org.uk/coolcarbon.

About Mercy Corps. Mercy Corps works amid disasters, conflicts, chronic poverty and instability to unleash the potential of people who can win against nearly impossible odds. Since 1979, Mercy Corps has provided over £650 million in assistance to people in 100 nations. Supported by headquarter offices in Europe, North America and Asia, the agency's unified global programmes employ 3400 staff worldwide and reach more than 14.4 million people in over 35 countries. During the last five years more than 90% of the agency's resources have been used for programmes that help people in need. For more information visit www. mercycorps.org.uk