Carbon Offset Option Now Available For Flights To Polar Regions
Quark Expeditions Encourages Travelers to Lower Carbon Footprint
[Waterbury, VT] – June 10, 2014 – Quark Expeditions, the leader in polar adventures, announces another addition to the company’s long list of polar “firsts.” Passengers can select to pay a nominal fee to offset their flights to the Polar Regions.
In collaboration with the CarbonNeutral® Company in the UK, Quark Expeditions now offers passengers a pay-as-you-fly carbon offsetting program for international and domestic flights. Carbon dioxide emissions from burning fossil fuels are the largest source of climate-altering greenhouse gas emissions. For only US$58.13 per person, those traveling with Quark can have this option easily added to their booking to help offset the carbon dioxide emissions of their flights to the Polar Regions. This can be done by contacting a Quark Polar Travel Adviser and adding it to your booking.
“By choosing this option, you will be helping the environment by offsetting the equivalent of 5 tons of CO2 emissions. This is the equivalent of 16,281 car miles or 57 car trips from London to Paris,” said Hans Lagerweij, president of Quark Expeditions.
Quark is committed to the Polar Regions and ensuring they remain pristine for generations to come. Quark was the first Polar operator to offer carbon neutral voyages to Antarctica on its ship, Ocean Diamond at no additional cost to passengers. This initiative was launched during the 2012.13 Antarctic season and will continue on for its third season through 2014.15. Quark also offsets all staff air travel, uses low-emission marine gas oil (MGO) on its ships, use eco-friendly laundry chemicals and cabin amenities, and provide every passenger with a reusable water bottle instead of plastic bottles. For more information about Quark’s sustainability initiatives, please click here.
Carbon Neutral Projects Selected
Zhangjiakou Wind Power Project
Located in Hubei Province, China, this Gold Standard project consists of 33 x 1.5 MW wind turbines to supply zero-emissions renewable electricity to the North China Power Grid.
Acre Amazonian Rainforest Conservation Project
The project aims to prevent deforestation in 35,000 hectares of pristine rainforest in Brazil’s Acre state, home to the Amazon basin and some of the world’s most biologically diverse habitats.
Uganda Community Reforestation Project
The Uganda Community Reforestation Project organizes hundreds of small community-based reforestation activities on lands owned by subsistence farmers, combining sustainable development with carbon sequestration. The project has been validated to the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) and Climate, Community, and Biodiversity (CCB) Standard.
Buenos Aires LFG to Energy Project
The project reduces greenhouse gas emissions by capturing landfill gas from the landfill site for conversion into electricity, and improves the quality of life for those in the surrounding neighborhood.
For more information, contact a Quark Polar Travel Adviser by telephone or live chat Monday through Thursday 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. Travelers in North America may call toll free 1.888.892.0073 or +1.203.803.2666. Bookings can also be made online at QuarkExpeditions.com.
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About Quark Expeditions
For over 20 years, Quark Expeditions has been the leading provider of polar adventure travel. With its diverse fleet of specially equipped vessels and seasoned expedition leaders, they offer travelers unparalleled access to the most remote regions on earth: the Arctic and Antarctica.
In 2013, Quark Expeditions was voted “World’s Leading Polar Expedition Operator” by the World Travel Awards, received the “Blow the Budget” award from the Amadeus & World Travel Mart Travel Experience Awards and was named one of National Geographic Traveler’s 50 Tours of a Lifetime for their “Three Arctic Islands” voyage.
The CarbonNeutral Company®
The CarbonNeutral Company® is a world-leading provider of carbon reduction solutions and has helped businesses reduce their carbon footprint for 15 years.