In a symbolic gesture to heighten public awareness of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, Antonio de Aguiar Patriota, the Brazilian Foreign Minister, swiped his own credit card via an iPad tablet on June 14 to pay for the GHG emissions he personally created for traveling to the Riocentro convention center in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Two young volunteers helped calculate the actual amount on the spot before the minister made his voluntary payment. Riocentro, also known as the Rio Center, is the official venue for the UN Conference on Sustainable Development, which will be held in Rio June 20 to 22.

An official from the Brazilian National Organizing Committee of the UN conference, better known as Rio+20, disclosed at a following press briefing that the online GHG emission compensation tool was created by the Brazilian Government in partnership with the UN Development Program Brazil office and Caixa Economica Federal, a Brazilian banking institution. The online instrument will show to each individual participating delegate how much GHG emissions he or she has brought about by their air travel to Rio de Janeiro, and it will also allow them to make compensation or donation for the damage to the environment. During the Rio+20, volunteers carrying tablets that can access the online compensation toll will be available at all conference venues to assist donors.

The official also announced his committee has just set up a special unit to analyze, mitigate, and compensate any social and environmental impact generated by the organization of the conference. Nine areas will be covered in this latest effort to push for more sustainable development in Brazil. They include management of GHG emissions, water resources, solid waste management, energy, transportation, sustainable construction, sustainable procurement, sustainable tourism and sustainable food. The unit will use internationally recognized methods to measure GHG emissions from the Rio+20. GHG emissions during the Rio+20 that cannot be eliminated, such as fuel consumption and waste disposal, will be compensated for, the official said.

To make the UN conference on sustainable development worthy of its name, the organizing committee is making an effort to operate in a more economical, environmentally friendly way. For instance, in an effort to reduce GHG emissions and lessen traffic congestion, the committee will arrange six to seven shuttle routes for participants to travel between conference venues and hotels. Conference staff are also required to advise delegates against using paper, with most official documents being circulated electronically.

(Reporting from Rio de Janeiro)