Minister for Climate Change and Water, Penny Wong, today congratulated forestry organisation, Greenfleet, for becoming the first not-for-profit ‘offset provider’ to be approved by the Australian Government.

Greenfleet will help businesses and individuals reduce the impact of their vehicles on the environment by planting native trees to absorb carbon emissions. In the coming months Greenfleet’s customers will have the option of offsetting their emissions with Greenhouse Friendly™approved offsets.

“Greenfleet have today received Australian Government approval to provide offsets under the Greenhouse Friendly™ initiative,” Senator Wong said.

“Carbon-based fuel emissions from cars and other vehicles contribute heavily to global warming. Greenfleet’s biodiversity forest projects will not only result in a reduction of greenhouse gases, they will also provide valuable habitat for native fauna and assist in the regeneration of the Australian landscape.”

Greenhouse Friendly™ creates an opportunity for Australian companies to work with Government to reduce the environmental impact of their products or services. Now that Greenfleet is an approved offset provider they will be able to help, by providing high quality offsets to companies which wish to reduce their carbon footprint.

A Greenhouse Friendly™ forest sink used to generate offsets must have been planted by human induced methods and result in ‘additional’ greenhouse gas reduction; that is, it must have been planted specifically for the purposes of carbon sequestration. Greenhouse Friendly™ projects are rigorously and independently assessed to achieve a globally recognised standard.

For more information: www.climatechange.gov.au/greenhousefriendly