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20210615 Resolution to Achieve Carbon Neutrality for ALA Conferences 

Jun 15, 2021 08:24 AM
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Jun 24, 2021 09:19 AM

Erica,

I appreciate the time you took to review the resolution being proposed on achieving carbon neutrality for ALA Conferences. All of us moving this resolution are on the same page as you are, carbon offsets are not the answer. The resolution is being put forth to create the priority, space and time to do more authentic work in this area.

Matt Bollerman, SustainRT Councilor

Jun 17, 2021 04:22 PM

Dear Friends,

I appreciate the excellent and thoughtful work done by the Sustainability Roundtable and the interest in helping ALA be conscious of the impact of conferences on the environment.

I'm not convinced purchasing carbon offsets is the way to address that challenge. There is ample evidence that carbon offsets are not only NOT benefitting the environment but are instead allowing industry to continue to act in ways that are harmful to the environment and do nothing to stop the use of fossil fuels, but instead make people feel better about not changing their behavior.

Some great articles illustrate why the idea of carbon offsets are more hurtful than helpful:
From ProPublica: https://features.propublica.org/brazil-carbon-offsets/inconvenient-truth-carbon-credits-dont-work-deforestation-redd-acre-cambodia/

From Greenpeace: https://www.greenpeace.org.uk/news/the-biggest-problem-with-carbon-offsetting-is-that-it-doesnt-really-work/

As Larry Lohman says, "Carbon markets are not designed to reduce emissions. Their function, in the Paris Agreement and elsewhere, is to extend the life of the fossil fuel economy and, indirectly, an exploitative and unequal system of extractivism and nature degradation. That is why they are backed by so many fossil-driven corporations and capitalist states. Carbon markets have coexisted very happily for more than 20 years with a catastrophic increase in emissions."(https://redd-monitor.org/2020/10/22/interview-with-larry-lohmann-the-corner-house-carbon-markets-do-not-need-to-be-fixed-they-need-to-be-eliminated/)

I'd love for us to find a way to do work to demonstrate that ALA is committed to becoming a sustainable organization that doesn't perpetuate the ongoing climate crisis. I don't think carbon offsets get us there.

All the best,
Erica Freudenberger
Councilor-At-Large

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