The Initiative

The IDB recognizes greenhouse gas emissions from its activities as a key part of its environmental footprint and has made a commitment to become carbon neutral. To that end, the IDB piloted the carbon neutral concept at its 2006 Annual Meeting, making it the first successful effort by a multilateral development Bank to measure and manage its carbon footprint. In 2007 the IDB expanded this initiative to neutralize unavoidable emissions from its headquarters through a series of investments in offset projects in Latin America and the Caribbean. IDB’s commitment to going carbon neutral also supports the objectives of the Bank´s Environment and Safeguards Compliance Policy and the Sustainable Energy and Climate Change Initiative (SECCI), both of which encourage the reduction and control of GHG emissions.

The IDB Carbon Neutral Initiative is based on four lines of action:

• Calculating the IDB Carbon Footprint: by conducting an annual GHG Inventory of the IDBs Headquarters and Country Offices (incorporating direct and indirect emissions associated with the operation of IDB offices such as heating, electricity, chiller emissions, business travel and the Annual Meeting);
• Reducing the IDB Carbon Footprint: through the implementation of eco-efficiency measures and greening programs as well as the purchase of renewable energy credits;
• Offsetting the IDB Carbon Footprint: with the purchase of Verified Emission Reductions (VERs) sourced from renewable energy and energy efficiency projects in Latin America and the Caribbean;
• Leading by Example in the Region: by communicating the IDBs efforts to calculate and manage its carbon footprint and promoting the initiative in the Region.