The America's Cup partners with Offsetters as it strives towards a carbon neutral Summer of Racing

VANCOUVER, March 26, 2013 /PRNewswire/ - The America's Cup Summer of Racing in San Francisco intends to be carbon neutral thanks to a partnership announced today between the America's Cup Event Authority (ACEA) and Vancouver, BC based Offsetters, North America's leading carbon management solutions provider.

Today's announcement supports ACEA's commitment to sustainability while delivering one of the most fiercely competitive sporting events, as four teams race for the oldest trophy in international sport.

"Our unique partnership with Offsetters marks the 34th America's Cup as the first in history to have an Official Carbon Credit Supplier, and is a crucial step forward to meeting our goal to make this race as sustainable as possible," said Stephen Barclay, CEO of ACEA.

To help the America's Cup reach its sustainability goals, Offsetters will provide a portfolio of high quality carbon credits that have strong links to marine benefits and the sport of sailing. Offsetters will also manage the America's Cup Sustainability Credit ("ACSC") Program.

Each ACSC is comprised of a carbon credit equivalent to removing one tonne of greenhouse gas emissions from the atmosphere, and a cash donation to a restoration project in San Francisco Bay, where the sailing event takes place. The aquatics-related carbon credit projects will prevent emissions from entering into the atmosphere, thereby compensating for the emissions arising from the event that are under the control of the event organizers. All carbon credits will be sourced from high-quality projects, designed to meet or exceed the highest international standard for carbon accounting and offsetting.

The America's Cup Sustainability Plan outlines the ACEA's approach to delivering sustainable event activities in San Francisco.  Strategies include diverting materials away from landfill, sourcing local and sustainable food, and reducing emissions from transportation. A robust event carbon management strategy is being implemented to measure the event carbon footprint, reduce ACEA's owned emissions, and to compensate for ACEA's unavoidable emissions associated with event activities in San Francisco.

Offsetters and ACEA will also work with interested stakeholders who want to compensate for their own emissions from the Summer of Racing - resulting from air travel and other carbon emitting activities - by encouraging them to acquire ACSC.


"We're proud to partner with such a historic sporting event and to showcase ACEA's forward-thinking leadership in environmental sustainability," said Dr. James Tansey, CEO of Offsetters. "The projects we have chosen to offset its emissions will continue as living environmental legacies of the 34th America's Cup, long after the athletes and spectators have returned home."

About Offsetters

Offsetters is North America's leading carbon management solutions provider. Founded in 2005, the company helps organizations and individuals understand, reduce, and offset their climate impact. Offsetters was the first official supplier of carbon offsets in the history of the Olympic movement (Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games). Its team of industry leaders specializes in the origination, development and commercialization of high-quality carbon offset projects and is proud to also provide clients with a comprehensive offering of sustainability consultancy services. Based in Vancouver, Canada, Offsetters has worked with over 150 of the world's most prestigious organizations including Aimia and lululemon athletica. For more information, please visit www.offsetters.ca.

About the America's Cup

One of the most fiercely competitive and sought after trophies in all of sport, the America's Cup was first raced in 1851, 45 years before the modern Olympics. The U.S. yacht America won, giving the international sailing competition its name.

The next Louis Vuitton Cup, America's Cup Challenger Series (July-August 2013), leading to the America's Cup Finals (September 2013), will be held for the first time in San Francisco Bay, a natural sailing arena, in AC72 wing sail catamarans.

The associated America's Cup World Series is a global circuit of events where the teams race AC45 catamarans for a season championship. ORACLE TEAM USA won the 2011-12 title. The 2012-13 season opened with events in San Francisco in August and October and continues with races in Naples, Italy.

SOURCE Offsetters Climate Solutions