We know college students around America are concerned about the potentially devastating effects of global warming, but there are few areas of the US which could be more impacted by climate change than SIIP’s hometown, Saint Petersburg, Florida. Much of the city is low-lying, and would be impacted greatly by even a relatively modest sea-level rise. In addition, there are fears that global warming may result in more intense hurricanes.

Every time a US student travels to Europe, they will release at least two tons of carbon dioxide as a result of their airline travel. Since SIIP doesn’t just send one student a year, we are concerned about greenhouse gas emissions that we cause, and part of our commitment to our local community is making sure we do something about our emission footprint.

That’s why SIIP is proud to be the first cultural exchange organization to join the Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX). CCX is the world’s first, and North America’s only, legally binding multi-sectoral greenhouse gas registry, reduction and trading system, and has offset projects worldwide.

What this means to you is that we have made a legally-binding commitment to offset our greenhouse gas emissions. For example, we are bound to offset the greenhouse gases indirectly emitted because we use electricity to power our office, and the gases our staff emit indirectly when they travel (e.g. by commercial airline). Our commitment goes further still – we will offset your greenhouse gases for you at no extra cost. Specifically, we offset the gases you emit when you fly to your program and the gases emitted by airline travel on SIIP Cultural tours.

Our membership of the exchange confirms for you that our offsets are not based on shaky science. Our offsets are subject to independent verification by CCX. Approved offset projects include methane reduction, fuel switching, and better forestry and agricultural practices.

This is entirely our choice -- we want all our children to have the pleasure of seeing the sites around the world that made us gasp the first time we saw them. We hope to be the first of many cultural exchange organizations to join CCX.