Hapag-Lloyd Cruises is giving passengers the opportunity to offset CO2 emissions from cruise travel, in cooperation with the climate protection organization atmosfair. The non-profit organization, under the direction of Klaus Toepfer, has developed a climate calculator for cruises. Hapag-Lloyd will assume 25 percent of the voluntary climate protection contribution for their passengers.

Starting in 2011, Hapag-Lloyd passengers can donate a voluntary financial contribution to aid a climate protection project. The cruise operator will cover 25 percent of the cost, based on the climate calculator for each cruise. Hapag-Lloyd has chosen to have the money collected support atmosfair’s project to supply electricity by means of solar lamps in India.

Using a climate calculator at www.hl-cruises.com/climate-calculator , passengers can ascertain their respective climate protection contribution in advance, and decide whether they would like to contribute 75 percent of this cost. The atmosfair calculation method has been approved by Germany’s Federal Ministry for the Environment. Contributions vary depending on the CO2 emissions and thus on the duration of the cruise, as well as the booked category. The full donation amount is passed on directly to atmosfair, who will then use the proceeds in climate protection projects financing renewable energies for households in India. For more information, visit www.atmosfair.de or www.hl-cruises.com.

From "Travel Pulse"