Who are BVCO?

A leaflet on BVCO's services can be found here

BVCO was born out of Blue Ventures Conservation. The charity has had great success in protecting coral reefs and other marine systems over the years, but climate change threatens to undo much of this work and further degrade coral reefs (learn more here).

The work of Blue Ventures has been able to go ahead through both the work and funding of volunteers. Blue Ventures’ volunteers however do contribute to carbon emissions through their travel to the site, and with a need to address climate change started by advising volunteers to use offset organisations. However, there seemed to be a better way to directly benefit the Malagasy communities that we were working with.  Thus, Blue Ventures Carbon Offset (BVCO) was established. It is now compulsory for all Blue Ventures volunteers, researchers, tourists, and also recreational visitors to our research site to offset their travel emissions with BVCO.

Since the beginning of 2007 BVCO have been working with Association pour le Développement de l'Energie Solaire (ADES) to coordinate the efficient stove programme. ADES already have a great experience with dissemination of solar stoves in Madagascar. BVCO is currently financing the programme to be expanded across the Tulear region of Madagascar. 

BVCO has been working with SunFire Solutions since the beginning of 2008 to coordinate stove programmes in South Africa.  SunFire Solutions has had over a decade’s experience in stove programmes in the country.

Our motivation
BVCO is driven by:

• A motivation to invest as much as possible in improving the livelihoods of resource dependent communities in developing countries; especially Africa.
• A drive to help those that are most affected by climate change to adapt to it
• A need to know what, where and how our carbon offset money is being used
• A desire to increase awareness of the link between air travel, climate change, and coral reef degradation
• The need to combat climate change through emissions reductions beyond efficiency savings
• A desire to help others to reduce their carbon emissions.

Our offsetting principle

BVCO believe that energy management and conservation should come before carbon offsetting, but that offsetting can work along with other carbon reducing activities. BVCO believes that carbon offsetting is at the base of the carbon conservation triangle, so advise other strategies before resorting to offsetting. BVCO therefore offers carbon management plans to all individuals and businesses looking to offset their lifestyle or businesses.

Further, BVCO does not claim that carbon offsetting will provide a solution for climate change, but it will help communities who are least prepared for the negative effects of climate change and to adapt to the long term consequences of mass carbon burning.

BVCO is specifically works on alternative carbon mitigation projects that have additional environmental, economic and health benefits for local communities in Madagascar and South Africa.  See our project pages for further information.

Our offsetting principle

BVCO believe that energy management and conservation should come before carbon offsetting, but that offsetting can work along with other carbon reducing activities.  In fact, we believe that carbon offsetting is at the base of the carbon conservation triangle, so we utilise other strategies before resorting to offsetting. 

Further, we do not claim that carbon offsetting will provide a solution for climate change, but it will help communities who are least prepared for the negative effects of climate change to adapt to the long term consequences of mass carbon burning.