Reducing Your Impact

API/Carbon Clear Offset Program

Becoming a global citizen involves not only learning about other cultures and places but also recognizing that each individual has an impact on the world. To ensure that our students’ experiences positively contribute to their host communities and to the planet, API participates in several important enivronmental initiatives, such as our API Gives Back projects, our membership in the Green Passport Program, and our carbon-offset program. API has partnered with Carbon Clear, a world leader in carbon management and one of the world’s largest providers of carbon offset credits, to offer students the chance to address the environmental effect of their study abroad travel. API and Carbon Clear work together to choose projects that students may elect to sponsor (for a minimal contribution of $15 – which API matches for each student!), and all of Carbon Clear’s projects contribute to environmental sustainability and have measurable social improvement as a primary goal.

Carbon Offset FAQs

What is a carbon offset?

Offsetting your carbon is the act of reducing greenhouse gas emissions in one place in order to “offset” or “balance out” greenhouse gas emissions occurring somewhere else. An offset credit refers to one metric ton of carbon dioxide that has been reduced in another location through a carbon reduction project. Carbon reduction projects include things like renewable energy projects, landfill methane capture projects or even tree planting projects.

I’ve heard carbon offsets are a sham… Is this true?

Those who argue that carbon offsets are a sham generally take one of two viewpoints. The first argument is that the purchase of offsets leads us down a ‘business as usual path’, rather than making behavioral changes. In response, there is no single solution that will perfectly mitigate greenhouse gases around the globe, however, a combination of efforts will likely get us to the point that at which we need to be. Alongside many other carbon reduction initiatives, such as the passing of climate change legislation at the national level, the purchase of carbon offsets will make a real and immediate impact on the reduction of greenhouse gases now. It is certainly not the silver bullet that will solve climate change, but it is an important part of the solution. The second argument centers around the credibility of offsets. This is easily addressed by paying attention to the standards of offset credits. There are several offset standards that exist in the marketplace to ensure that only high quality offset credits are produced, which means that the credit represents a real, additional, and permanent reduction of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. As a consumer it is important to source only those offset credits that meet these high standards, including the Voluntary Carbon Standard (VCS), the Gold Standard (GS), and the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM).

What standards do Carbon Clear projects adhere to?

Carbon Clear provides carbon credits that meet the requirements of the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), Voluntary Carbon Standard (VCS) and the Gold Standard.  It is the company’s mission to provide projects to customers that meet the highest of international standards, and provide both social andenvironmental benefits to the communities where those projects exist. To be considered truly legitimate, an offset credit should be: 1) ADDITIONAL – the project would not have occurred without the money generated from the offset sales; 2) VERIFIABLE – by a third party; 3) PERMANENT – the offset reductions created as a result of the project are not reversable.

Is Carbon Clear independently audited and verified?

Yes. All of Carbon Clear’s sustainable energy projects comply with independent certification standards – either the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), the Voluntary Carbon Standard (VCS), or the Gold Standard. As a founding member of ICROA, Carbon Clear is required to comply with its Code of Practice and submit an annual compliance report for third party review. Both Carbon Clear’s carbon credit registry and financial accounts are independently reviewed on an annual basis. Where they exist, the company uses independent third-party registries to hold and retire their carbon credits.

API’s Carbon Footprint

API recently completed our first carbon footprint analysis and review with Carbon Clear to evaluate our U.S. office’s environmental impact (including staff travel, physical resources, shipping, printing, etc). For a summary of this report, click here. Further information, including future reduction goals, will be posted soon.

API on Green Passport

The Green Passport is part social network, part social movement, and it’s purpose is to “green the field of international education.” For more information, to become a member, and to read about green initiatives in API’s programs, visit our group on GreenPassport.com.

Further Reading

For more information on API’s green projects, visit the following links:

• API’s spring 2012 study abroad carbon offset project – China
• API partner University College Cork named “World’s First Green Campus”
• API sustainability partner Carbon Clear named a top sustainability consultant!
• API’s summer 2011 study abroad carbon offset project – Indonesia
• API’s Carbon Offset Program Gets Underway
• Just What is in API’s Carbon Reduction Project Portfolio, Anyway?
• Carbon Offsets – What Are They, and Why Are They Useful?

API’s Green Programs

If you are looking for a study abroad program with a “green focus,” consider these options:

SEMESTER/QUARTER/ACADEMIC YEAR

• Costa Rica
  • San Joaquín de Flores – Instituto San Joaquín de Flores – Spanish Language and Latin American Studies Program – Offers courses in conservation and ecotourism (courses in Spanish).
  • San José – International Center for Development Studies (ICDS) – Spanish, Social Justice and Sustainable Development in Latin America Program – This program offers courses in English covering current environmental issues in Latin America and sustainable tourism and local development.
  • San José – Universidad de Costa Rica – This program offers courses in English in biodiversity, conservation, environment, development, and tropical ecology.
  • San José – Universidad Veritas – Language and Culture Program – While most courses are in Spanish, this program does offer courses in English in environmental studies, marine biology, sustainable development, and ecotourism.
• England
  • Leeds – University of Leeds – Leeds is known as the “Environmental City of the U.K.”. The API Program at the University of Leeds allows study abroad students to take courses in environmental health engineering, environmental modelling, soils and environmental change, environmental economics, environmental ethics, environmental science, and more.
• Ireland
  • Cork – University College Cork – offers courses in environmental biology, environmental engineering, environmental science, and environmental studies. UCC was also named the “World’s First Green Campus”!
  • Dublin – University College Dublin – offers courses in land use and environmental management, environmental engineering, environmental history, environmental impact assessment, global environment, renewable energy sources, soil science, and more.
  • Galway – National University of Ireland, Galway – offers courses in environmental law, environmental planning, environmental politics and policy, environmental engineering, and more.
  • Limerick – University of Limerick – offers courses in environmental design, environmental engineering, environmental impact assessment, environmental fate modeling, and sustainable design.
• Italy
  • Florence – Lorenzo de’Medici – The Italian International Institute – offers courses in English in environmental issues and sustainable food.
  • Venice – Lorenzo de’Medici – The Italian International Institute – offers a fascinating course on environmental issues relating to the Venice Lagoon.
• Spain
  • Cádiz – University of Cádiz – offers courses in environmental studies and marine sciences for high level Spanish speakers, as well as internships and volunteer projects in these areas.
• Qatar
  • Doha – Qatar University – offers courses in English in environmental science and environmental studies.
• UAE
  • Sharjah – American University of Sharjah – offers courses in English in environmental science, environmental water engineering, environmental toxicology, environmental assessment and management, and waste treatment.

SUMMER/SHORT-TERM

• Costa Rica
  • San Joaquín de Flores – Instituto San Joaquín de Flores – Spanish Language and Latin American Studies Program – Features a course in tropical ecology.
  • San José – International Center for Development Studies (ICDS) – Spanish for Development Program – This program features a course on Spanish and sustainable development in Latin America (challenges and perspectives).

INTERNSHIP/VOLUNTEER

• API Gives Back - Many API Gives Back projects have an environmental focus to them. These projects are open to all API students where available.
• Costa Rica
  • ASVO Volunteer Program – Available to students completing a spring semester and/or a summer session in Costa Rica, this NGO offers students the opportunity to contribute to their host community through social and environmental projects. An additional fee is required for this option (to cover housing, meals, and transportation).
  • Universidad de Costa Rica -  API students at the Universidad de Costa Rica are encouraged to participate in volunteer projects organized through the school. UCR also organizes a “Week of Volunteer Work” during the semester term.
  • The International Center for Development Studies – offers a variety of internships in a number of areas, including environmental management and indigenous rights.
• Spain
  • Cádiz – University of Cádiz – offers environmentally focused internships and API Gives Back projects working in wetland marshes and on other coastal issues.