Environmental projects in Timor-Leste
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Vincent
Dec 22, 2008, 12:18:13 AM12/22/08
to Diligroup
PLAN TIMOR-LESTE GOES GREEN!
Plan International Timor-Leste, ever conscious of protecting the
environment, has gone one step further than most and turned its Aileu
district office green – by switching to solar power.
The solar power system is designed to run office equipment such as
computers and printers. It’s called a “hybrid system” whereby solar
panels charge batteries during the day so that when the irregular town
power supply is off the office automatically switches to running from
solar power instead and even charges the batteries some more. The
system was installed by the Alternative Technology Association (ATA),
an Australian NGO which has been operating in Timor Leste for 5 years.
Anton Vikstrom, International Projects Manager at ATA, said, “It’s
great to improve the work of Plan Timor-Leste as this reliable supply
of power will help staff do their work and also reduce emissions from
diesel generators”.
Plan’s District Coordinator for Aileu, Fernando Araujo, explained,
“Before we would often have to work without electricity because the
generator was noisy and also expensive to run. This really affected
some of our work because we couldn’t use our computers. Now that we
have solar power we’re combating both of these problems and also
reducing Plan’s carbon footprint”.
Not happy to do things by half, Plan Timor-Leste has proudly even set
up its very own ‘Green Task Force’ to ensure that it is
environmentally friendly and improves its knowledge and practices in
the office, field and home, with the keywords being “reduce”, “reuse”
and “recycle”.
The Taskforce has a host of activities planned and some already
underway, such as establishing rainwater harvesting for the office so
as to use less water when flushing toilets, a plastic-free office
campaign, an audit on energy usage, a strict recycling system, a
review of the type of vehicles used, as well as the shift from using
air conditioners to fans.
Penny Jones, a founding member of the Green Task Force and Plan’s
Grants Manager, said: “It is the poorest people in developing
countries such as Timor-Leste who tend to suffer the most from
environmental problems such as climate change. Changing weather
patterns, for example, can reduce rural communities' ability to grow
enough food. International organisations such as Plan therefore have a
responsibility to take the environment seriously by minimising their
environmental impact and working with local communities to reduce the
risk of environmental disasters.”
Sensitisation of staff is key to the success of the Green Taskforce,
with training on environmental issues being organised for everyone by
a local NGO. The Task Force even has its very own “Green
Investigator”, also doubling up as the Senior Programmes Manager,
Izito Casthaneira, who is assigned to take photos of offending staff
members who don’t adhere to new environmentally-friendly guidelines!
To mark the shift in practices, each department in Plan Timor-Leste
celebrated by planting a tree.
If you would like more information on how Plan is turning its office
green, please contact Penny Jones, Grants Manager, on
<mailto:penny...@plan-international.org>penny.jones@plan-
international.org
Plan International Timor-Leste, ever conscious of protecting the
environment, has gone one step further than most and turned its Aileu
district office green – by switching to solar power.
The solar power system is designed to run office equipment such as
computers and printers. It’s called a “hybrid system” whereby solar
panels charge batteries during the day so that when the irregular town
power supply is off the office automatically switches to running from
solar power instead and even charges the batteries some more. The
system was installed by the Alternative Technology Association (ATA),
an Australian NGO which has been operating in Timor Leste for 5 years.
Anton Vikstrom, International Projects Manager at ATA, said, “It’s
great to improve the work of Plan Timor-Leste as this reliable supply
of power will help staff do their work and also reduce emissions from
diesel generators”.
Plan’s District Coordinator for Aileu, Fernando Araujo, explained,
“Before we would often have to work without electricity because the
generator was noisy and also expensive to run. This really affected
some of our work because we couldn’t use our computers. Now that we
have solar power we’re combating both of these problems and also
reducing Plan’s carbon footprint”.
Not happy to do things by half, Plan Timor-Leste has proudly even set
up its very own ‘Green Task Force’ to ensure that it is
environmentally friendly and improves its knowledge and practices in
the office, field and home, with the keywords being “reduce”, “reuse”
and “recycle”.
The Taskforce has a host of activities planned and some already
underway, such as establishing rainwater harvesting for the office so
as to use less water when flushing toilets, a plastic-free office
campaign, an audit on energy usage, a strict recycling system, a
review of the type of vehicles used, as well as the shift from using
air conditioners to fans.
Penny Jones, a founding member of the Green Task Force and Plan’s
Grants Manager, said: “It is the poorest people in developing
countries such as Timor-Leste who tend to suffer the most from
environmental problems such as climate change. Changing weather
patterns, for example, can reduce rural communities' ability to grow
enough food. International organisations such as Plan therefore have a
responsibility to take the environment seriously by minimising their
environmental impact and working with local communities to reduce the
risk of environmental disasters.”
Sensitisation of staff is key to the success of the Green Taskforce,
with training on environmental issues being organised for everyone by
a local NGO. The Task Force even has its very own “Green
Investigator”, also doubling up as the Senior Programmes Manager,
Izito Casthaneira, who is assigned to take photos of offending staff
members who don’t adhere to new environmentally-friendly guidelines!
To mark the shift in practices, each department in Plan Timor-Leste
celebrated by planting a tree.
If you would like more information on how Plan is turning its office
green, please contact Penny Jones, Grants Manager, on
<mailto:penny...@plan-international.org>penny.jones@plan-
international.org
Vincent
Jan 13, 2009, 2:02:16 PM1/13/09
to Diligroup
Perhaps an NGO working on forestry would be interested in this
funding?
According to the PDF on the website, the application deadline is Jan
30th.
***********************************
Hyundai Climate Grant program is an innovative component of the
Genesis Forest Project. In addition to financing the development and
implementation of the Genesis Forest in Brazil, Hyundai will award
three $35,000 grants to project developers to create new projects to
meet the Climate, Community & Biodiversity (CCB) Standards.
A major obstacle to the creation of new high-quality, multiple-benefit
forest carbon projects is the up-front cost of project design and
validation. Hyundai seeks to facilitate the establishment of new
projects by easing the associated cost burden by awarding grants to
three chosen projects. Hyundai’s leadership role will therefore make
it even easier for other companies to follow its lead by supporting
the implementation of high-quality forest projects.
Projects will be chosen by an independent board of industry experts
through a competitive application process. If you are a carbon project
developer and would like to apply for a Hyundai Climate Grant, please
download the application below.
Applications are due January 16, 2009.
http://hyundai.carbonfund.org/climateGrants.aspx
funding?
According to the PDF on the website, the application deadline is Jan
30th.
***********************************
Hyundai Climate Grant program is an innovative component of the
Genesis Forest Project. In addition to financing the development and
implementation of the Genesis Forest in Brazil, Hyundai will award
three $35,000 grants to project developers to create new projects to
meet the Climate, Community & Biodiversity (CCB) Standards.
A major obstacle to the creation of new high-quality, multiple-benefit
forest carbon projects is the up-front cost of project design and
validation. Hyundai seeks to facilitate the establishment of new
projects by easing the associated cost burden by awarding grants to
three chosen projects. Hyundai’s leadership role will therefore make
it even easier for other companies to follow its lead by supporting
the implementation of high-quality forest projects.
Projects will be chosen by an independent board of industry experts
through a competitive application process. If you are a carbon project
developer and would like to apply for a Hyundai Climate Grant, please
download the application below.
Applications are due January 16, 2009.
http://hyundai.carbonfund.org/climateGrants.aspx
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