'Green' card to 'save the world' 1 ton at a time
- Source: Global Times
- [11:12 June 07 2010]
- Comments
A volunteer holds up the new low-carbon public transport card that was released to the public Sunday. Photo: CFP
By Li Xiang
Organizers are asking visitors and residents to offset the carbon emissions produced at the World Expo 2010 in Shanghai by buying a new low-carbon public transport card released Sunday to the public.
Visitors can purchase the card, which is slightly smaller than the city's public transport card, at the We Are the World Pavilion inside the Expo Park, which showcases a low-carbon lifestyle.
Half of the money for the 40-yuan ($5.90) card will go towards a fund established by Expo authorities and the US-based Environmental Defense Fund to offset 1 ton of carbon emissions, the estimated amount of emissions each visitor is expected to produce by touring the Expo Park. The remaining charges will cover administrative fees.
The 'green' card will work the same way as a regular public transport card though it can only be recharged at service counters, not via machines.
Organizers first introduced the card to a selected group of 20,000 company employees in the city on April 22 to mark Global Earth Day.
The card is also being made available at Home Inns chains around the city and at the online shop Yihaodian.com.
