Project will offset PNG tourism impacts by sustaining forests
13 February 2019
PETER KINJAP
PORT MORESBY –Travel4Green (T4G) is an autonomous nonprofit private project about offsetting global tourism carbon footprints and sustaining indigenous forests in Papua New Guinea.
The project is based on blockchain and encourages travellers worldwide to calculate their carbon footprints to calculate the volume of carbon emissions they leave behind in each country they visit.
In PNG, the project is independent of government, being designed and operated by Howarig Traders, a registered consultancy firm.
T4G is calling for public review and comment of a white paper being put together to launch this project in PNG. Public feedback on this final draft working document will be taken into account in the development of the project.
To obtain a copy of the white paper for review and comment, email [email protected]
The prototype is scheduled to be launched in Port Moresby in April and it is planned it will go into full operation in June.
The Integrated Platform for Climate Initiative (IPCI) [https://ipci.io] provides the digital platform for this project and the founder of IPCI, Dr Anton Galenovich, says the T4G PNG project is promising and IPCI will continue to provide support to it.
The calculated carbon footprint of people’s travel trip is offset community efforts against deforestation, logging and land use clearing, thus giving a clear view of the costs or benefits of tourism.
T4G PNG has plans to offset carbon credits with 60% of proceedings going to forest landowners, of which 40% is directly paid into their Incorporated Land Group’s nominated account for conservation on a blockchain platform that maintains high level of transparency.
The project will also give a certain proportion to the PNG government for taxation, policy backup and regulatory support.
Discussions are continuing with the PNG Climate Change and Development Authority to finalise an agreement to work in partnership to implement the project.
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