民主黨全國黨代表大會25日開幕，許多來自各地的代表紛紛購買「碳補償」，以減低因搭乘飛機、火車、汽車所產生的二氧化碳。
這項「綠色黨代表計畫」（Green Delegate Challenge）是民主黨整年計畫當中的一環，同時也劃下黨史上最具永續環保概念的一次會議。
民主黨全國黨代表大會執行長道奇（Leah Daughtry）說：「我們希望利用實際行動與合理的解決方式來降低人類對環境的衝擊，當然也藉此凸顯出具有永續概念的會議與其他會議的不同。」
為補償二氧化碳排放造成的暖化效應，與會代表透過大會籌備人員的安排，購買了由自然能源公司（NativeEnergy）所提供的再生能源計畫，當中包含了科羅拉多州學區的風力發電以及伊利諾州的垃圾掩埋場沼氣發電計畫。
碳補償的費用相當平民，若從自家至會議地點來回飛行共2500公里計算，加上住在丹佛的旅館五個晚上，一個人只要花上24美元。
碳補償最多的黨代表團，在會場上的座位底下將被作上特殊的記號，目前，所有的州代表團都參與了這項計畫，更有將近一半代表團，其所有成員都購買了碳補償。
當代表團與新聞媒體到達會場時，他們會發現除了省電燈泡、LED與太陽能電燈外，還有以生質柴油為能源的發電機。而舞台上的能源除了來自於風力田還有透過經Green-e認可購買的再生能源。 此外，丹佛附近的交通工具也有其他能源來代替原先的石油與石化柴油。
會議中心（也就是百事中心）、民主黨全國黨代表大會會館、以及所有辦公室的設置位址，皆位於輕軌電車站或「16街混合能源專車」接駁站步行可及的地方，幾乎所有黨代表下榻的旅館，也都可利用以上大眾運輸方式到達。
民主黨全國黨代表大會會議在官網上寫道：會議中心內部「選擇永續材料是我們綠色計畫的核心之一」，利用可回收商品、永續木材、租用與使用重複使用材質商品的概念，皆可見於此次的會議。而在大會結束後，，任何材料的使用都將被評估與追蹤，儘可能重複使用或捐給當地社區組織及學校。
As delegates from across the country converge on Denver for the Democratic National Convention opening Monday, most of them are buying offsets to neutralize the carbon dioxide emitted to power their planes, trains and cars.
This Green Delegate Challenge is part of the Democrats' year-long effort to make their 2008 national convention the most environmentally sustainable convention in the party's history.
"We're committed to using practical, common-sense solutions to limit our impact on the environment and make this convention one of the most sustainably produced events of its kind," said Leah Daughtry, chief executive of the Democratic National Convention Committee.
To offset the climate-warming effect of that ton of carbon dioxide, delegates are purchasing renewable energy from a portfolio of U.S. projects selected by convention organizers and provided by NativeEnergy. They include wind power for a Colorado school district and a landfill gas-to-energy project in Illinois.
The cost of a carbon offset is modest, just $24 for one person flying 2,500 miles to the convention and back home and staying for five nights in a Denver hotel.
Delegations with the highest percentage of members offsetting their carbon emissions will be recognized in their seating section on the convention floor. All the state delegations are participating and about half of them have chalked up 100 percent participation.
When delegates and media arrive at the convention, they will find compact fluorescent, LED and solar powered lighting, and generators fueled by biodiesel. A percentage of the power supplied to convention venues will be generated by wind farms and purchased by the venues through Green-e certified renewable energy credits.
There are many alternatives to gasoline and petroleum diesel for transportation around Denver.
The Pepsi Center, the Convention Center, the DNCC Headquarters Hotel and the DNCC offices are all located within walking distance of either light rail or the 16th Street mall shuttle, which is run on hybrid buses. Most delegation hotels are also accessible from these public transportation systems.
Inside the convention center, the DNCC says on its website that "choosing sustainable materials is at the heart of our greening plan." Sustainable and recyclable service ware, sustainably harvested wood products, and rented or reused materials are being used to stage the event. Materials used will be measured, tracked and wherever possible, reused or donated to community organizations and schools at the conclusion of the convention, organizers say.
