Wednesday 22 April 2020

Canadian college to plant 30,000 trees to offset two years of emissions

Dawson College has committed to planting 30,000 trees this spring and summer to offset two years of its carbon footprint.

Half of the trees will be planted on marginal land in Nicaragua.

The Canadian college, which has pledged to be carbon-neutral since 2018, has generated 2,647 metric tonnes greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for the last two years, including student and staff commuting.

It says employee and student transportation to and from the college, as well as college-related travel, account for 75% of total carbon dioxide emissions over this time.

Chris Adam of Dawson's Sustainability Office said: "Many of these trees, already growing in nurseries will offset Dawson's carbon footprint for the years of 2017-2018 and 2018-2019."

"These trees represent 100 native species. This project will reforest approximately nine hectares of land, an area equivalent to 17 football fields. Our investment will also directly support four farmers by increasing their income and building sustainable livelihoods. We are currently deciding on the placement of the other 15,000 trees."