Innovation for the Planet: Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Atlanta’s Carbon-Offset Fund

by Sue Certain, UUCA Climate Action TeamIt began in 2018 when Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Atlanta (UUCA) members Sue and Gordon Certain took the trip of a lifetime to visit Australia and New Zealand, 10,000 miles away.  Since he was 10, Gordon had wanted to see Ayers Rock (now renamed Uluru).  They saw kangaroos, koalas, cassowaries, kiwis, the Sydney Opera House, the Outback, Maori people, Aboriginal people, stunning snow-capped mountains, deserts where it had not rained for over a year, Uluru, and more.  They flew and sailed and rode buses and vans.  Then, they returned to Atlanta.  The Certains were aware of the huge carbon footprint their trip had left.  But what to do?  What was the best carbon-offset they could give?  In the meantime, UUCA had left their old building and was remodeling a new one, on new grounds.  Sue Certain worked with the UUCA Climate Action Team as the idea of a Carbon Offset Fund was born.  The idea was straightforward:  if you travel, you leave a carbon footprint.  The bigger the trip, the bigger the footprint.Bert Pierce, leader of the UUCA Climate Action Team, is developing a Carbon Offset Calculator to determine how much CO2 one’s trip had added to the atmosphere.  Carbon dioxide emissions per person on a 2500-mile airline flight melt 32 square feet of Arctic sea ice.  A cruise adds even more CO2 per mile to the atmosphere, making our planet even warmer.The fund has become a reality and now has over $4000.  A number of congregants have given to the fund.  One can give using PayPal (PayPal Account, debit, or credit card) or by check.  The money will be used for environmental projects at UUCA.  Our capital campaign fund will not raise enough money to fund all desirable projects, such as electric car charging stations, low emission lawn maintenance equipment, or foam insulation.  We have a whole list of proposed projects, and could dream of more.  The fund is to help finance projects not otherwise funded.  It would not, for example, be used to pay for insulation that would bring the building up to code:  that would be paid for by the Capital Campaign Fund.  But a new, white roof with solar panels?  Such a dream might be funded by the Carbon Offset Fund.If anyone would like to donate to the fund, to support the sustainability of our new building, they can go to www.uuca.org/give , go to the drop-down menu, select “Carbon Offset Fund”, and simply give using a credit card.  It is quick and easy.  Or they could donate with a check, if so desired.  Anyone who has traveled and wishes to offset that carbon footprint, or if they just wish to reduce global warming, all donations are welcome and gratefully received.Not many people are travelling at this time, due to the coronavirus.  But congregants are giving to the fund anyway, for trips not taken and money saved, to celebrate Earth Day, and the like.  This is a brand-new fund.   We do not know into what it will evolve; but we do know, it will combat climate change by creating features in our new building that will lower our carbon footprint.  A net zero building, and grounds, would be ideal.