Washington, DC - The National Wildlife Federation, the nation's leading conservation advocacy and education organization, is making its 70th annual meeting in New Orleans carbon neutral with Carbonfund.org, as a practical step to combat global warming.

"This is a first step, but it shows that we have choices to reduce our impact on global warming," says Larry Schweiger, President of the National Wildlife Federation. "Using the tools of a free market system, we can make a difference in combating the threat global warming poses to wildlife and to our children's future."

This year's annual meeting, being held at the Wyndham Hotel March 16 through 18, focuses on restoring Louisiana's embattled coastline as well as the threat of global warming. Among the noted speakers will be Steve Johnson, administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency who will address the opening general session.

The National Wildlife Federation is taking action against climate change by teaming with Carbonfund.org to offset the carbon emission impact of the conference. With some 350 people, including staff and delegates from 47 state and territorial affiliate organizations, traveling to New Orleans, the annual event will produce carbon emissions caused by air travel, ground transportation, and the use of facilities in the hotel and city. Carbonfund.org and the National Wildlife Federation will offset the carbon dioxide emissions by supporting energy efficiency projects that reduce an equal amount of emissions. The National Wildlife Federation is committed to accounting for its carbon expenditures.

"We are thrilled that the National Wildlife Federation is offsetting the climate impact of its annual conference with Carbonfund.org," says Lesley Marcus Carlson, President of Carbonfund.org. "Global warming's impact on wildlife is already evident and will have a terrible impact unless organizations and individuals across the United States start taking steps like this one. The National Wildlife Federation is, once again, taking a leadership role in protecting our environment by taking the easy and affordable step of offsetting their carbon footprint from the conference. Carbonfund.org is a non-profit organization whose goal is to make carbon offsets and climate protection easy, affordable and a normal way of life for every individual and business. Carbon offsets - also called renewable energy certificates and 'green tags' - enable individuals and businesses to reduce carbon dioxide emissions in one location, where it is cost effective, to offset the emissions they are responsible for in their normal activities, like home, office, driving or air travel emissions. For instance, a clean, zero CO2 wind farm can offset the carbon dioxide produced by a coal-fired power plant that powers a home.

The National Wildlife Foundation, via Carbonfund.org, is supporting wind and energy efficiency projects that subsidize the cost of clean, renewable energy that also helps develop the technology. The average American is directly responsible for about 10 tons of carbon dioxide annually through their home, car and air travel, and their average total annual impact rises to an average of 24 tons when factoring in the purchase of goods and services. Conferences, with the heavy reliance on air travel and other transportation, are an easy first step for any organization to offset. Because conferences also often bring decision makers together, for Carbonfund.org, it is an excellent opportunity to educate and demonstrate that being responsible is both simple and environmentally effective.

About Carbonfund.org
Carbonfund makes it easy and affordable for individuals and businesses to reduce their climate impact to zero. With its easy-to-use calculator, low offset cost per ton of CO2, and certified offset projects, Carbonfund is proving that anyone can reduce their impact on climate change quickly and efficiently. Carbonfund is a 501(c)(3) charitable, nonprofit organization.

About National Wildlife Federation
The National Wildlife Federation is America's conservation organization protecting wildlife for our children's future. www.nwf.org

Carbonfund.org

Carbonfund.org

Carbonfund.org (www.carbonfund.org) reduces the threat of climate change by making it easy and affordable for any individual or business to reduce their carbon footprint and support climate-friendly projects. With its easy-to-use calculator, low offset cost per ton of CO2, and certified offset projects, Carbonfund.org is proving that anyone can reduce their impact on climate change easily and efficiently. Carbonfund.org is a nationally recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit business, and a member of the EPA's Green Power Network, the Chicago Climate Exchange, and Ceres. Carbonfree and "Reduce what you can, offset what you can't" are trademarks of the Carbonfund.org Foundation.

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