Press Release
Conservation efforts for San Francisco Bay benefit from the 34th America’s Cup carbon reduction and offsetting program

As the final chapter of the environmental sustainability story for the 34th America’s Cup, held in San Francisco in September 2013, Offsetters Climate Solutions is pleased to announce that $6,250 is being donated from the America’s Cup Sustainability Program to the San Francisco Bay Creosote Piling Removal and Pacific Herring Restoration Project.

Vancouver, BC-based Offsetters Climate Solutions worked with the America’s Cup Event Authority (ACEA) as the official carbon credit supplier and managed the America’s Cup Sustainability Credit (ACSC) Program. Each ACSC was comprised of a carbon credit, equivalent to removing one tonne of greenhouse gas emissions from the atmosphere, and a financial contribution restoration projects in San Francisco Bay.

Sustainability strategies for the 34th America’s Cup included diverting materials away from landfill, sourcing local and sustainable food, and reducing emissions from transportation. A robust event carbon management strategy was implemented to measure the event carbon footprint, reduce ACEA’s owned emissions, and to compensate for ACEA’s unavoidable emissions associated with event activities in San Francisco.

Historically, creosote-treated wooden pilings were used to build pier and wharf structures in San Francisco Bay, but they have since been prohibited because they are covered in coal and oil compounds that harm water quality for fish and other aquatic life. This five-year sub tidal habitat and Pacific herring restoration pilot project in the San Francisco Bay involves the removal of the derelict creosote pilings and the restoration of native eelgrass and oyster habitat for the benefit of Pacific herring and other aquatic resources. The California State Coastal Conservancy through a grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) is implementing the project.

Established by Congress in 1984, NFWF sustains, restores and enhances the nation's fish, wildlife, plants and habitats. Working with federal, corporate and individual partners, NFWF has funded more than 4,000 organizations and committed more than $2.3 billion to conservation projects. For more information on the NFWF, visit www.nfwf.org.

“The America’s Cup sustainability credit program not only prevented carbon emissions, but it also helped event organizers to better manage the emissions that were under their control, creating an event model which can be used for future America’s cup events,” says James Tansey, CEO of Offsetters Climate Solutions. “For the emissions we could not reduce, we chose carbon credits from high-quality projects, designed to meet or exceed the highest international standard for carbon accounting and offsetting.”

In addition to the 34th America’s Cup, Offsetters Climate Solutions has worked with other large-scale sporting events including the Vancouver 2010 Olympic & Paralympic Winter Games, the 2011 Baltimore Indy, and the Canadian Football League’s championship title game, the Grey Cup. For more information, visit www.offsetters.ca.

About Offsetters Climate Solutions

Offsetters Climate Solutions is North America’s leading carbon management solutions provider. Founded in 2005, the company helps organizations and individuals understand, reduce, and offset their climate impact. Offsetters was the first official supplier of carbon offsets in the history of the Olympic movement (Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games). Its team of industry leaders specializes in the origination, development and commercialization of high-quality carbon offset projects and is proud to also provide clients with a comprehensive offering of sustainability consultancy services. Based in Vancouver, Canada, Offsetters has worked with more than 150 of the world’s most prestigious organizations including Aimia and lululemon athletica. For more information, please visit www.offsetters.ca.

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Media contacts:

Brian Cant, Tartan Group: 250-592-3838, 250-888-8729 (cell) or [email protected]

Natalie Farrell, Offsetters Climate Solutions: 778-887-6049 or [email protected]