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STA Travel announced today its new carbon reduction program, giving its customers the opportunity to reduce their own carbon emissions when booking their travel with STA Travel.

STA Travel will work with award-winning carbon solutions provider and reforestation developer, Carbon Neutral, to roll out the new program that will support carbon reduction projects both in Australia and abroad.

“This is a project that aligns with our values of sustainability and environmental impact and it has never been more important for us to give our customers a chance to travel more sustainably,” says an STA Travel spokesperson.

Customers will be given the opportunity to contribute a nominated amount to reduce their carbon emissions for their flight. What’s more, STA Travel is currently matching contributions up to $5,000 in February to kick start the campaign.

STA Travel will then purchase carbon credits from Carbon Neutral on behalf of its customers, 100% of which will be invested into projects like the Yarra Yarra Reforestation Project in Australia. The project, located in Southwest Australia global biodiversity hotspot, aims to remove existing carbon from the atmosphere today and to recreate a healthy and functioning landscape.

Abroad, the program will support the Gujarat Wind Power project in India. The large-scale project will reduce emissions of greenhouse gases by displacing electricity delivered to the Indian Grid that would have otherwise been generated by the operation of mainly fossil fuel based power plants. The project will also support the Shimba Hills Stoves project in Kenya, which involves the free distribution of efficient wood stoves to remote rural households. Studies have shown the stoves to reduce fuel consumption by at least 50%.

“We are committed to supporting initiatives that meet the UN-approved Gold Standard,” says the STA Travel spokesperson.

“Gold Standard initiatives educate and change behaviours and practices at the source, to help combat climate change, rather than just ‘neutralise’ the effects of greenhouse gas emissions. It’s really important to us that this program works towards long-term benefits for people and planet.”

Should customers want to reduce their emissions so that they are carbon neutral, STA Travel’s Travel Experts will work with customers to calculate how much it will cost to offset their entire journey, based on mileage.

The new carbon reduction program is a welcome addition to STA Travel’s flourishing portfolio of Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives, including its anti-slavery policy, its industry-leading animal welfare policy, its commitment to safe and sustainable volunteering and much more.

For more information on STA Travel’s carbon reduction initiative, visit: https://www.statravel.com.au/carbon-reduction.htm

To book your next (carbon reduced) adventure, visit an STA Travel store or call 134 782.