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PURE - the clean planet trust

PURE – the clean planet trust is a registered environmental charity with the specific objective of combating climate change.

PURE was conceived by a group of like-minded individuals that recognised the need for cost-effective voluntary solutions to the carbon problem which extend the success of emissions trading beyond mandatory schemes.

PURE’s commitment to the highest quality of offsetting, retirement of regulated and properly tradeable credits and related carbon policy standards; and value and price transparency; is monitored by suitably qualified Independent Trustees.

“The Government welcomes the launch of PURE's carbon offsetting scheme. The Scheme offers credits that have been generated from emissions reductions that are regulated, verified and for which there is a clear audit trail."

Ian Pearson, UK Government Climate Change
and Environment Minister, Nov 2006

Projects supported by PURE

PURE supported the World’s first Gold Standard project to be issued by the UN Certified Emission Reductions (CER’s). All donations are used to buy and cancel carbon credits. PURE only buys and cancels carbon credits that meet both of the following criteria: credits from the regulated Kyoto markets, primarily CERs but also EUAs when appropriate; credits from renewable energy and energy efficiency projects because of their long-term sustainability benefits to host countries.

All donations are used to buy and cancel carbon credits. PURE only buys and cancels carbon credits that meet both of the following criteria: credits from the regulated Kyoto markets, primarily CERs but also EUAs when appropriate; credits from renewable energy and energy efficiency projects because of their long-term sustainability benefits to host countries.

All projects in developing countries are registered and verified through the United Nations Clean Development Mechanism. Click on a link below to read more about each project.

India - crop waste power plant
China - run-of-river hydropower
Brazil - renewable energy & forest preservation
China - wind power

India - crop waste power plant Malavalli Power Plant

	World's first 'Gold Standard' project to have its CERs issued.
	Generating clean, renewable electricity from crop waste such as coconut fronds and sugar cane trash.
	Reducing CO2 emissions by around 20,000 tonnes per year
	Directly creating at least 500 local jobs in the power plant and in the collection of the agricultural waste that the plant uses as a fuel
	Local farmers are now getting paid for crop waste that was previously left to rot or burned
	Directly contributing around US $1 million to the rural economy
	Waste from the power plant is environmentally beneficial as an organic fertilizer
	Supplies reliable electricity for around 10,000 people in 47 villages
	Reliable electricity further stimulates local economic activity

Fuller details can bee seen within the Project Description Document

China - run-of-river hydropower Shimenping Hydropower station, Zhouqu County

	The Gansu Zhouqu Shimenping Hydropower Station is located in Zhouqu County in North West China. The local population of Zhouqu County lives in extreme poverty and the county is designated as a national poverty county.
	Shimenping is a “run-of-river” power station. Instead of building a large dam which would flood valuable agricultural land and disturb wildlife, the project uses the natural flow of the river to generate clean electricity.
	A small amount of flood prone land will be lost due to the project, protection barriers will also be constructed to protect against landslides and flooding, creating an additional 100,000 square metres of protected farmland.
	Previously cut off for much of the flood season, a road has now been built into Shimenping village, thus improving access to education and healthcare for the local community.
	The project also provides employment in this remote part of China.
	The project reduces emissions by avoiding the need for electricity from coal-fired power plants. Annual reductions are expected to be around 67,000 tonnes, equivalent to the domestic energy emissions (i.e. gas and electricity) of around 12,000 UK homes.

Brazil - renewable energy and forest preservation BK Energia Itacoatiara Power plant

	Itacoatiara is a power plant that uses waste wood from sustainably managed forests as a fuel, replacing electricity generated from polluting diesel generators.
	Renewable energy is generated for an area in the Amazon with a population of around 80,000.
	Waste wood is used from about 450,000 hectares of sustainably managed and FSC certified Amazon forest. Sustainable harvesting means that no more than 5 trees are harvested per hectare every 25 years and that low-impact logging techniques are applied in order to preserve the wildlife and to protect the forest canopy. In addition, 25% of the forest is set aside for absolute preservation and access to the forest is controlled to prevent illegal deforestation and the hunting of endangered species.
	The project’s other main environmental benefit is to protect an area of forest of around 1,800 square miles – roughly three-times the size of Greater London.
	Carbon emissions are reduced by around 165,000 tonnes per year. This is equivalent to the domestic energy emissions of a UK town of 60,000 people such as Scarborough.

China - wind power Ningxia Tianjing Shenzhou wind farm

	This wind farm is located relatively poor region of China with a dry, desert-like region and a growing economy.
	Coal is cheap and plentiful in this area of China, and without the revenue from the sale of carbon credits, the wind farm would not be able to be price competitive with electricity from polluting coal-fired stations.
	The project, which started operating in 2004, consists of a total of 36 wind turbines which generate 70.38 gigawatt-hours of clean electricity each year, reducing carbon emissions by around 50,000 tonnes per year, equivalent to removing about 17,000 average British cars off the road each year.
	As well as reducing carbon emissions, the project also avoids other forms of air pollution. It is estimated that the wind farm prevents emissions of 170 tonnes of sulphur dioxide (which causes acid rain) each year and around 280 tonnes of NOx (which causes smog and respiratory disease).
	One of the additional benefits of the project is the stimulation of the growth of the wind power industry in Ningxia. Local engineers and technicians receive invaluable training through the implementation of the project. Likewise, the project uses “variable pitch” wind turbines which automatically adjust themselves depending on wind speed
	The project also benefits local tourism by providing electricity to the famous historical site, Xi Xia Emperor’s Tomb

For more information visit www.puretrust.org.uk