The Carbon Team is responsible for proposing and implementing a carbon offset project that neutralizes the carbon emissions of the GIN Conference. GIN has created what is referred to as the Carbon Fee, a $10 donation that each Conference Participant makes as part of their Conference Registration. This enables GIN to impart seed funding for the Carbon Team Offset Project on campus a gift to the school in alignment with the GIN ethos. The Carbon Team calculates the carbon footprint of the GIN Conference. Once the carbon emissions have been calculated, the Carbon Team is then asked to develop a viable plan that must be approved by the school’s administration and implemented either during or near the close of the GIN Conference event. The Carbon Team is also responsible for creating common ground understandings around climate change, carbon emissions and the power of choice as individuals and a global community. The ISC GIN Carbon Team calculated the carbon footprint of incoming participants using the distance and modes of travel such as air, minivan and or bus, the ingredients of the meal plans and where they were sourced, and the energy use of the GIN Conference. Acalia, well-known to her peers and teachers as Cali, was so committed to the accuracy of her work and her team’s mission, to neutralize the carbon of the conference, that she collaboratively organized a food waste measurement protocol with the International School Sustainability
Coordinator, Mr. Tim Kenny.

Together they were able to enlist the help of a neighboring farm to neutralize the carbon footprint of any food waste from the conference as the meal plan was 100% vegetarian or vegan. The food waste from the conference was to serve as both a contribution to their farm compost as well as a food source for their animals. Without fail, after every meal she scoured the eating area for any opportunity to share her knowledge and request her peers work with her to reach her goal. As the Carbon Team Lead, Cali asked her fellow organizers to help her make sure that they, along with all conference participants, disposed of their food in the proper compost bin. As if this was not enough to show her metal, she did not flinch when tasked the heavy lifting (literally) of gathering the food waste at the end of each meal for measurement. Zig zagging her way across campus and back again to fulfill her commitment as she noted the amount and disposed of it in the allocated area of the school.

Innovated, Written, Proposed, Organized and Implemented by the Carbon Team Lead- Acalia (Cali) Randall

Approved by the Head of School- Dr. Michael Boots

ISC is hosting the Global Issues Network (GIN) conference this year. 56 people from schools all over Brazil are going to take part in it with 40 staff member who will be helping during the conference. With all of this around 3.5 metric tons of carbon will be emitted into the atmosphere. It is a key aspect of this conference that we stay carbon neutral.

Tress are one of the most cost effective and efficient ways of offsetting carbon. Keeping this in mind planting 15 manacá trees throughout the school would realistically decrease the carbon footprint of the conference. It will offset about 50% of the carbon emissions over the next 4 years. Not only this but the manacá tree is native to the south of Brazil and is bee friendly.

Getting land to plant the trees
● Choosing a date to plant them
● Purchasing the products around approx. 200 USD (all costs are
covered by Conference Registration)
● Storing the trees until planting date (2-3 days before)
● Planting the trees

Strengthening Our Identity as Global Citizens: By planting trees in our community, we are helping reduce the footprint the conference leaves in our atmosphere. In order to be a global citizen, taking care of our environment is key.

Collaboration: The trees will be planted by GIN members and anyone in the community who would like to participate. Planting the trees will promote collaboration within our community and will be growing representation of how our community can come together for the good of the earth.