Mercy CORPS & Climate Trust Launch CARBONCOUNTER.ORG Web Site to Address Global Warming

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Mercy CORPS & Climate Trust Launch CARBONCOUNTER.ORG Web Site to Address Global Warming

Online Calculator Gives Individuals a Tool to Measure, Reduce Daily CO2

OREGON, PORTLAND, May. 15 -/E-Wire/-- Mercy Corps and The Climate Trust announce the launch of CarbonCounter.org, a pioneering web site designed to help people learn about, measure, and reduce their personal impact on global climate change.

In the face of the global scientific consensus that human activities contribute to global warming, many corporations in recent years have begun to measure, reduce, and "offset" their emissions of carbon dioxide CO2 â the most prevalent greenhouse gas that causes climate change. CarbonCounter.org â the first personal CO2 calculator tied to one of the world's largest non-profit offset buyers â now brings the offsetting tool to individual citizens, giving them the ability to offset their carbon emissions online in less than 5 minutes.

"We are very excited about empowering individuals to do something about this urgent global issue," said Michael Ashford, Deputy Director of The Climate Trust, which manages 11 projects designed to offset manmade CO2 in the United States and around the world. "People, like corporations and governments, must do something now to slow the advance of climate change and we are here to help."

Using a specially created online calculator, visitors to the CarbonCounter.org can measure the amount of carbon dioxide they produce each year at home, commuting, and through air travel. Visitors are then provided the opportunity to mitigate their CO2 output with credit card donations to The Climate Trust's global portfolio of high quality offset projects.

"Mercy Corps recognizes that solving environmental problems such as global warming is directly related to our humanitarian relief and development efforts around the world," said Matthew De Galan, Mercy Corps Chief Development Officer. "We believe that this project â like many of our existing programs â can play an important role in helping to create healthier communities around the world."

The collaborative project brings The Climate Trust's groundbreaking role in identifying and financing projects around the world that reduce CO2 emissions together with Mercy Corps' award-winning expertise in web-based marketing and fundraising.

Donations to CarbonCounter.org are invested in The Climate Trust's projects that reduce CO2 levels across a range of sectors, including renewable energy, energy efficiency, transportation efficiency, and reforestation. Part of the donation will also go towards Mercy Corps' global poverty alleviation programs, including projects that counter the impact of climate change on the poorest peoples in the poorest countries around the world.

ABOUT THE CLIMATE TRUST

The Climate Trust is a nonprofit organization formed in 1997 in response to landmark Oregon legislation requiring new power plants to counter their global warming impact. The innovative legislation allows power plant developers to meet a carbon dioxide (CO2) emission standard by making a payment to The Climate Trust. The Climate Trust now uses these and other public and private funds to stimulate projects that avoid, displace or sequester CO2 emissions. These emissions reductions are called offsets because they count against the production of CO2 from human activities. Further information about offset projects funded by The Climate Trust is available at www.climatetrust.org.

Mercy Corps exists to alleviate suffering, poverty and oppression by helping people build secure, productive and just communities. Since 1979, Mercy Corps has provided more than $640 million in aid to 74 nations. The agency currently reaches more than 5 million people in over 30 countries. More than 91 percent of the Mercy Corps' resources are allocated to programs that help those in need. For more information, see www.mercycorps.org.

[REDACTED-EMAIL]

http://www.climatetrust.org

http://www.mercycorps.org

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