Results of the measurements of the Carbon Footprint of the Dakar Rally in Bolivia will be presented

The British Embassy in Bolivia, CAF, Development Bank of Latin America, and two private companies, supported the 2014 Dakar Rally Carbon Footprint Project, Bolivia tranche, which was coordinated by the  Vice-Ministry of Tourism and executed by the Inti Illimani Foundation, between October 2013 and January of this year.  

The project calculated the emission of greenhouse gasses (GHG) generated by the activities surrounding the competition, such as the movement of tourists, preparation activities carried out by the organizing committee, and generation of solid residues, among others. That is, the indirect carbon footprint of the world´s most famous rally was quantified during its first crossing though national territory. 

The direct Carbon Footprint is generated by activities of the competition itself, such as consumption of fuels of close to 200 motorcycles and 200 four-engine motorcycles that drove through 1,200 kilometers of Southeastern Bolivia; it was quantified and neutralized by Amaury Sport Organization (ASO), the event´s organizing entity, through investments in an environmental project in the Peruvian Amazon. 

The innovation of this initiative is that in addition to measuring the indirect Carbon Footprint, whose results proved to exceed the indirect measures, was the compensatory mechanism which consists in providing access to clean energies for rural communities that are within the Dakar route. In this framework, 60 solar kitchens were built for beneficiaries in the communities of Totora K and Colchani, both in the Department of Potosi, generating positive socio-economic and environmental impacts related to access to clean energy for domestic and productive use. 

Due to the success of the project and the confirmation of the crossing of the Dakar Rally through the country in 2015, this time for three days and the inclusion of automobiles, a preparation process has started to measure the footprint of the competition. This time, the support of public and private enterprises and other actors is sought, to compensate for the GHG emissions generated, and ideally to neutralize the Footprint. 

With this purpose, the Vice-Ministry of Tourism, the British Embassy, and CAF, will present the results of the project and will launch its new version in the auditorium of the financial institution on August 12th. 

Those interested in participating must send an e-mail to info@huelladakarbolivia.com, indicating the company's name and contact information under the subject "Interés en participar del evento Huella de Carbono Rally Dakar 2015 - tramo Bolivia" (Interest in participating in the event 2015 Dakar Rally Carbon Footprint - Bolivia Tranche).