2. Outline
What is Sustainability?
What is Carbon Sequestration?
Why are they important?
Components of a carbon footprint
Results from Cool Climate
Limitations
Moving forward!
The greatest threat to our planet is the belief that
someone else will save it.
-Robert Swan
3. What is sustainability?
“Meeting the needs of the present without
compromising the ability of future
generations to meet their own needs”.
-Brundtland Commission
Three important concepts
Longevity
Triple bottom line
Environmental, societal, economic.
Processual
Sustainability is not a goal but an ongoing
process of iteration.
4. What is Carbon Sequestration?
The process of removing excess carbon from the carbon cycle by
capturing it (either naturally or artificially) and storing it
indefinitely.
At OM Sanctuary, the easement serves as the vessel for this storage.
5. Why are they important?
Sustainability
It facilitates several
important things…
Socioeconomic
equitability
Environmental
economic viability
Actionable
environmental
responsibility on
multiple levels.
Carbon Sequestration
Plays an important role in
reducing greenhouse gas
emissions.
Particularly from non-point
sources.
CO2 is necessary for
photosynthesis
Forest and agricultural
productivity is directly related
to the amount of CO2
present in forests and soils.
6. What to consider
when calculating a
carbon footprint?
Location
Business sector
Number of facilities and Sq. feet
Number of employees
Annual revenue
Business related transportation
Energy usage
Waste and recycling
Procurements
7. Results of the Cool
Climate Calculation
388 tons of CO2e from Oct 2015- Sept 2016
Strengths
Transportation
Thanks to Asheville being a commuter friendly city.
Locally focused organization
This figure is also likely to be smaller based on staff
location.
Weaknesses
Procurements
173% of similar businesses
Does not account for organic or locally sourced
8. Limitations and
Obstacles
Data is skewed because of
OMS’s previously dormant state.
An example would be the
replacement of A/C
equipment.
There are gaps in some of the
required data.
Paper, stationary and
printing.
In these instances, averages for
small-scale hotels were used.
Some of these are not
representative of OMS.
9. But Evan, how does this apply to tourism?
Asheville is a prime tourist destination.
Wellness, outdoor sports and recreation, historical significance, and
beer!
The OM sanctuary is situated adjacent to the French Broad River.
This is the third oldest river in the world.
Is considered a tourist destination.
Our conservation easement contributes to the urban forest.
As Asheville continues to develop, the longevity of the easement will
continue to provide benefits through natural services.
10. Moving Forward
Carbon Offset project with:
Dogwood Alliance
Ecoforesters
Ongoing environmental
stewardship.
Prescribed burn
Continue to engage the
community.
Infographics
Detailed record keeping
Waste, procurements, etc.