Visões Úteis

The greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions or greenhouse gases are gaseous substances that absorb part of the infrared radiation, emitted mainly by the land surface, reducing it's escape into space thus keeping the Earth warm. The greenhouse effect is a natural phenomenon. This phenomenon occurs since the formation of Earth and is necessary for sustaining life on the planet. However, the increase of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere has overcome this natural phenomenon, leading to an abnormal rise in temperature, causing a climate change that experts say could be potentially catastrophic.

The current level of emissions of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is the highest in the last 420,000 years. The eight warmest years in history occurred in the last decade. GHGs are largely responsible for climate change on our planet, in particular the global warming that is causing forest fires, glacier melting, changing ocean currents and rising sea levels.

Amongst the greenhouse gases that are increasing in concentration, carbon dioxide (CO2), methane and nitrous oxide are the most important.

By introducing a fee (optional payment) per km on it's travels, Visões Úteis hopes to contribute in a positive and active way, not only to the awareness of the problem of emissions and greenhouse gases but also, in a direct way, to support entities engaged in environmental preservation and sustainable energy. Thus, we chose to partner with WWF.

Created in 1961, WWF (formerly the Worldwide Fund for Nature) has been established as one of the most respected independent networks of nature conservation.

Headquartered in Switzerland, WWF is composed of organizations and offices in several countries that are characterized by their presence in both local and global contexts and by a constant dialogue between all those involved in environmental issues: from communities such as tribes of Baka pygmies in the rain forests of Central Africa, to international institutions like the World Bank and the European Commission.

WWF's mission is to stop the degradation of the environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature by:

• Conservation of biological diversity worldwide;
• Ensuring the sustainability of renewable natural resources;
• Promoting the reduction of pollution and waste.

A rough calculation of CO2 emissions in a travel of 100 km per day in a family car adds up to an impressive amount of about 6 tons of CO2 emitted into the environment during a year! It would take 34 trees to absorb all this carbon dioxide...
We believe that the rate of €2.00 for every 100 km of travel is a small contribution that those who buy our shows will be willing to pay for this cause, which is no more than to preserve life on Earth. Thus, for example, a show scheduled in Coimbra, may contribute about €4 for the WWF. With €4 you can plant some trees...

Of course, whenever the entity that invites us doesn't want to support (or at least share) this rate, we will support it ourselves. This is a cost for which we insist on responsibility and that applies to any type of traveling that may produce greenhouse gases (particularly by car and airplane).