Twelve people in China have taken a new step in going green with the purchase of carbon credits - in which they offset their carbon emissions by funding projects to improve the environment.

The 12 have neutralized a range of different emissions, including domestic electricity, car and flight emissions, Blair Palese, the communications manager of Climate Friendly, one of the four sales organizations recommended by the World Wildlife Fund, told China Daily.

Carine Saror in Shanghai said that she had purchased carbon credits for her four latest flights because she thought it was important to improve the environment.

"I am very careful in saving energy and avoiding emissions in my everyday life," she said.

"I don't leave appliances on standby and I don't have a car. But I can't avoid traveling, which probably emits the most carbon of all."

Rui Chenggang, an anchorman for China Central Television, has paid AU$ 57.08 (US$51) for his annual car emissions. He said that he purchased the credit on August 8, one year before the opening of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, as a gift to the event. Rui paid based on his car's annual mileage and its engine capacity.

"I am also planning to buy credits for my flights as well as emissions from using my air conditioner," Rui said.

Yue Qun, a professor at East China Normal University, said that this behavior is a welcome and environmentally friendly gesture. "But it is difficult to calculate the amount of CO2 we emit every day," he said.

"As far as I know, there are more companies doing this than individuals."

Palese from Climate Friendly said that they have many corporate purchasers, and the number of Chinese firms taking part is increasing. "One of the companies we work with is Via Technologies, based in Taipei, a major chip manufacturer, which neutralized emissions for two of the company's new chips through us," she said.

"We have two additional new Chinese business customers coming on line soon."

Palese said that the price to neutralize carbon with their organization is AU$22 (US$19.7) per ton. "We use the money to invest in renewable energy projects because we believe this is the most effective way to reduce global emissions, encourage the rapid transition to cleaner energy, and reduce pollution from energy sources such as coal," she said.

"Many of our projects have additional community benefits including energy stability, employment opportunities and occasionally tourism opportunities."

(China Daily October 20, 2007)