In May of 2009, Eurotunnel was awarded the Carbon Trust Standard for its commitment to managing and reducing its carbon footprint year after year. This award was well-deserved. In 2008 Eurotunnel reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by 45%, cutting its carbon footprint almost in half. Respect for the environment is one of Eurotunnel’s core values. It is committed to sustainable development on all fronts: from partnering with the French government for clean energy sources, to reducing its consumption and recycling its waste. Eurotunnel prides itself on being the most environmentally friendly cross-channel operator from UK to France. The company takes accountability seriously: to date, Eurotunnel is the only cross-Channel operator to publish yearly report on its carbon footprint, which it has been doing since 2006. In keeping with its values that man should co-exist peacefully with the environment, Eurotunnel actively monitors and promotes the natural environment on its tunnel sites. Eurotunnel believes that improving the management of its sites is a continuous process. Therefore, it strives to have the best understanding possible on how to manage biodiversity and employs researchers for this purpose. Thanks to Eurotunnel’s efforts, these landscapes have not only been preserved, but an impressive array of plants and creatures have returned to their original habitat. Eurotunnel also strives to put man back into contact with nature. It regularly opens its sights for guided walks and conservation activities. In France, Eurotunel manages the biodiversity of the flora and fauna at its Coquelles Terminal, its Jardins du Point du Jour, the loop wasteland and three lagoons in France. Thanks to its efforts, these sites now sport 25 natural habitats, 11 of which are of heritage interest. They are also home to 203 plant species, some of which are very rare and valuable, including several that are threatened with extinction. 12 nesting species, 4 heritage overwintering species and a myriad variety of insects also co-inhabit these sites. This site is managed in conjunction with Groupe Ornithologique et Naturaliste du Nord The Folkestone Downs site in the UK covers 48 hectares and is contains of the largest areas of ancient chalk grassland that remains in Kent. Grazing cattle have been introduced to control the coarse grasses, which has allowed more delicate species to flourish, increasing the biodiversity of the area. The Folkstone Downs are one of the best places in the UK for butterfly observation: thirty-one species of butterflies can be seen from its meadows. The site is part of the Kent Downs Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and has been deemed a natural heritage site. When not preserving heritage sites, Eurotunnel creates then. Its other UK site, the Samphire Hoe was created from 5 million cubic metres of chalk marl unearthed while the Channel Tunnel was being constructed. Its 30 acres sit at the foot of the White Cliffs of Dover. This site’s biodiversity is impressive as well: although it started out with 31 plant species, it now has over 200. This site also contains 12,000 species of orchids, up from a total of 67 that was counted in 1998, along with 175 species of moths and over 200 species of bird. In 2008, Samphire Hoe was awarded the Green Flag for the fourth year in a row for its high ecological quality.
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With Eurotunnel, you can ride from UK to France knowing that you are being a responsible steward for the environment. Eurotunnel is the cleanest cross-Channel operator in existence: in recent years it has reduced its carbon emissions by almost half. And this is not all: in keeping with its sustainable development values, Eurotunnel actively promotes the biodiversity of its tunnel sites. The flora and fauna at its Coquelles Terminal in France, along with the Folkestone Downs and Samphire Hoe ...
Helen Barnes is an engineering student and fan of the Eurotunnel channel crossing as a marvel of modern engineering.
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