Leading carbon offsetting company CO2 Australia today announced...

Leading carbon offsetting company CO2 Australia today announced that it has signed an
agreement with Qantas Limited to offset the emissions of around 100,000 passengers on
its 'Fly Carbon Neutral Day'.
Qantas will offset the emissions for all passengers flying on a Qantas, QantasLink or
Jetstar flight departing on Wednesday 19 September, anywhere in the world, as part of
the Company's commitment to saving more than two million tonnes of carbon dioxide by
June 2011.
"Qantas is one of many organisations that have come to us, looking to reduce their
environmental impact in a real and credible way. CO2 Australia is proud to have been
selected by one of Australia's most recognised companies, both domestically and
internationally, as its accredited carbon sink offset program provider," said Andrew
Grant, CO2 Group's Chief Executive Officer.
Under this carbon offset agreement, CO2 Australia will partner with rural farming
communities to establish and manage mallee environmental plantings in the mid to low
rainfall agricultural regions of southern Australia. These trees remove global warming
greenhouse gases from the air. These contractual arrangements are for a 30 year time
frame.
"Qantas has chosen to offset with CO2 Australia because it is the only current
Greenhouse FriendlyTM approved tree planting organisation. CO2 Australia will plant at
least 90,000 mallee Eucalyptus trees on our behalf that will sequester approximately
40,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide over time," said Rob Kella, Qantas Chief Risk Officer.
The Qantas sponsored mallee environmental plantings will be accredited under the
Federal Government's Greenhouse FriendlyTM Program (Program). This Program ensures
that the plantings meet strict compliance obligations. They have to be permanent and
undergo rigorous third-party auditing.
CO2 Australia remains the only forest carbon sink offset provider accredited under this
Program. The Company also remains the only forest carbon sink offset provider with dual
accreditations under both the Greenhouse FriendlyTM Program and the NSW Greenhouse
Gas Abatement Scheme (NSW GGAS).
"We are chosen by companies like Qantas because they know how rigorous and thorough
the accreditation process is. They are confident that they are getting what they pay for,"
said Mr Grant.
"Reafforestation forms an important part of our carbon abatement mix. We are committed
to Australia's long term future in this area and believe that the multiple benefits accrued
from supporting CO2 Australia's environmental mallee plantings are significant for
reafforesting Australia and reducing emissions in the long term” said Mr Kella..