Who'll worry over 2012 Olympic's carbon?

DOWNERS GROVE, USA: In conjunction with BP and its not-for-profit Target Neutral program, DeVry University announced it will help offset the carbon emissions associated with the 2012 Olympic Games by encouraging those who are traveling to London to offset their travel, at no cost, through Target Neutral.

Last week, the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) and BP announced that all travel for the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Teams would be offset through Target Neutral. DeVry University, an Official Education Provider of the USOC, will join Team USA and other Worldwide and USOC partners, such as Dow Chemical, GE, McDonald’s, United Airlines and Hilton, in offsetting travel emissions for the Games.

“We are delighted to join Team USA and BP to help mitigate and neutralize the travel emissions associated with the Games,” said David J. Pauldine, president of DeVry University. “The program not only enables DeVry University employees supporting Team USA to travel to the Games more sustainably, but also raises awareness among our students, alumni and university partners about how we can take action and offset their travel emissions for free.”

This initiative is part of a program to help offset the more than 400,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions (CO2) associated with travel to and from the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Supported by Target Neutral, a BP-developed non-profit program designed to reduce, replace and neutralize carbon emissions, the initiative is expected to offset the highest number of journeys to a single event, adds a press release.

As the Official Carbon Offset Partner of the London 2012 Games, BP is offering to offset the travel of all ticketed spectators to and from the Games. The aim is to neutralize the carbon dioxide emissions resulting from spectator travel to and from the Games as much as possible. The carbon released into the atmosphere by London 2012 spectators is estimated to be the second largest source of carbon outputs related to the Games.

“Of all of our efforts to make the Games as sustainable as possible, Target Neutral is a great way to engage as many people as we can — whether they are traveling to the Games or not,” said Kevin Phelan, senior vice president for BP Target Neutral. “Working with DeVry University is a unique and effective way to engage a wide range of students, faculty and those interested in sustainability, and I encourage as many people to participate as possible.”