NewswireTODAY - /newswire/ - Bad Vilbel, Frankfurt, Germany, 2010/10/08 - First Climate topped the list of climate neutral service providers for companies in a recent study conducted by the Eberswalde University of Applied Sciences for Sustainable Development on behalf of Germany’s leading consumer advocacy group the Federation.

The study, carried out as part of Germany’s Ministry for the Environment initiative “Strong Consumers for a Good Climate”, awarded First Climate’s services with one “very good” grade and two “good” grades. The goal of the university study was to provide an overview of the market and an in-depth evaluation of service providers for climate protection projects aimed at offsetting greenhouse gas emissions on a voluntary basis.

“The results of the study confirm our conviction that only climate protection projects certified according to the highest quality standards should be included in our portfolio,” said Dr. Sascha Lafeld, First Climate management board member. He highlighted the importance of guaranteeing that stringent standards are maintained and ensuring that the entire carbon emissions offsetting process is transparent to the customer. According to Lafeld, only in this way will carbon offsetting become increasingly accepted and its tremendous potential as a tool for climate protection be unlocked.

The authors of the study likewise stressed the importance customers place on transparency, as they are dealing with an intangible good and the voluntary market remains largely unregulated. Nonetheless, Lafeld pointed out it must be kept in mind that “Emissions offsetting must be part of a comprehensive sustainability strategy and not just a climate neutral flash in the pan.” This means that the focus must be on emissions avoidance and reduction from the outset, according to Lafeld. Only then does the offsetting of unavoidable emissions come into play, he added.

The evaluation was based on the following criteria: 1) Realistic emissions calculations, 2) Stringency and accountability of offsetting and 3) Transparent communication promoting
corporate behavior that fosters climate protection.

The study, titled “Treibhausgas-Kompensationsanbieter in Deutschland”, including an overview of the evaluations of all service providers on page 9, is available online at www.verbraucherfuersklima.de/.

Agency / Source: First Climate

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