DLR offsets CO₂ emissions through projects in Nepal and Rwanda
Compensating for business travel
DLR offsets CO₂ emissions through projects in Nepal and Rwanda
Biogas project in Nepal
This project from the climate protection organisation atmosfair installs small biogas systems in rural regions, with the aim of reducing reliance on wood as the main energy source. DLR is supporting this project by compensating for its carbon dioxide equivalents.
Image: 1/2, Credit:
atmosfair
Efficient stoves in Rwanda
Save80 stoves burn wood more cleanly, minimising their smoke output. DLR's compensation of carbon dioxide emissions contributes to this atmosfair project in Rwanda.
Image: 2/2, Credit:
atmosfair
The German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt; DLR) is committed to excellence, innovation, cost efficiency and responsibility. These values are reflected in DLR's offsetting of unavoidable emissions from staff business travel. For 2022, the amount of carbon dioxide CO2 emissions to be offset totalled approximately 4247.5 tonnes. Compensation for this was split roughly equally across two projects based in Nepal and Rwanda, run by the climate protection organisation atmosfair. The projects both closely align with DLR's mission and research portfolio and meet the highest standards
Biogas in Nepal: clean energy for rural households
Gold Standard certificate for DLR's engagement in Nepal
Credit:
Gold Standard
The first project focuses on the installation of small biogas systems in rural regions of Nepal and aims to reduce reliance on wood as the main energy source. The biogas units enable residents to convert organic waste into biogas, which can be used for both cooking and lighting. This environmentally-compatible alternative to wood and fossil fuels also has positive social impacts.
Since 2004, the Nepalese government's Alternative Energy Promotion Centre (AEPC) has installed more than 250,000 biogas units. With atmosfair's support, up to 20,000 additional systems can be built every year. More than 100 Nepalese companies operating in this sector also benefit, and in particular women and children who can spend less time collecting firewood. The use of biogas also reduces harmful smoke fumes and thereby lowers the risk of associated lung and eye diseases.
Efficient stoves in Rwanda: reducing deforestation and health risks
Gold Standard certificate for DLR's engagement in Rwanda
Credit:
Gold Standard
The second project promotes the distribution of Save80 stoves in Rwanda, which are made of high-quality stainless steel and reduce the amount of firewood needed for cooking by up to 80 percent compared with traditional methods. Use of the stoves reduces deforestation and household energy costs. The stoves also minimise the production of indoor smoke, lowering the risk of respiratory and eye diseases. Subsidised by atmosfair, these stoves are affordable even for low-income households.
About atmosfair
atmosfair is a non-profit climate protection organisation founded in 2004 following a research project from the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMUKN). It initiates and finances renewable energy projects in developing countries to reduce carbon dioxide emissions while improving the living conditions of local people. atmosfair places great importance on upholding the highest quality standards and keeping administration costs low; the organisation's figures show 95 percent of donations go directly into its climate projects.
All atmosfair projects are certified twice – both under the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and by the Gold Standard for the Global Goals from the Swiss Gold Standard organisation. By supporting these projects in Nepal and Rwanda, DLR is sending a clear message of support for sustainability and the responsible handling of unavoidable carbon dioxide emissions.
