Our story


This is CarbonBuddy.

Founder and owner.

Founder of CarbonBuddy is M. Johannes Seidel | M.Sc. | CEM® | CAP™ | Dipl.-Ing. (FH). You can find more information on Johannes here (LinkedIn).

Do you know this feeling when your mind, soul and body are in tune? When you feel complete? Content? To me this happens when I am outside. When I finally make it to the top of a mountain and enjoy the vast, panoramic view or after I come to rest after day's hike on a remote beach and listen to sea. Then, all the noise disappears and happiness sets in. Ideally, there is someone important next to me to share this moment.

 

People and nature. I believe, those are the reasons why I started CarbonBuddy. I have come to realize that they are my motivation.

 

Both of these are in danger. People and nature. I have worked in conservation and research but realized I can only find peace if I start working on what matter's most to me. So I have decided to focus my work life on climate change. One thing we need to understand is that the ice is melting because we turned on the heat. It will not stop. It is happening right now, as you read. Everywhere. In Alaska. In the Arctic. In the Antarctic. In the Alps. In the Himalayas. It is happening and it will not stop. Not until balance is restored. Decades and millions of bad decisions brought us here and now it's time to change things. Finally, everything we need is available to us and we simply need to implement these solutions. It is in our hands. Yours and mine.

 

Now, you might ask yourself: How? How can I transform my live or organization and become the #solutiontoclimatechange when I am busy bringing my kids to school, go to work 8 hours a day, cook, manage the household, and try to save up for the next much needed 3 day vacation? I simply do not have the capacity to do that. I would say you will be surprised. I am one of you. With all the same reasons you just read but I decided this is not going to stop me. Not only that, I decided to support you in finding meaning and purpose. In becoming an active part of the solution. How?

 

It is called CarbonBuddy - Your friend to tackle climate change. Measure, Act, Inspire. I am looking forward to hearing from you!

 

Aloha, Johannes

 

Award-winning & certified

 

 

In July 2019, Founder Johannes Seidel received the "Honorary Award" from the Association of Engineers Weihenstephan. Once again, I want to express my gratitude for your support and appreciation of the work I am doing with CarbonBuddy.

 


In May 2020, Founder M. Johannes Seidel received the "Certified Energy Manager®" certification from the Association of Energy Engineers. This certification demonstrates his expertise in energy management.

 

 


In May 2023, Founder M. Johannes Seidel received the "Carbon Auditing Professional™" certification from the Association of Energy Engineers. This certification demonstrates his expertise in carbon auditing, emission estimation and offsetting.


Our Vision

A world in which we will restore a balanced climate system, reduce inequality and create a prosperous, clean future for coming generations. People will be living meaningful, happy lives and follow their dreams.


Our Mission

CarbonBuddy empowers you to tackle climate change and inequality. We will make the impossible happen. #solutiontoclimatechange


CarbonBuddy


How it began

CarbonBuddy is the result of a long journey aiming to find a way to make a difference. This process started as a personal dream which sparked during an internship at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park in 2008.  The sheer and overwhelming beauty of Hawai'i Island only deepened the passion for planet earth. So after working in Research on Renewable Energy in Germany as well as an Environmental Specialist for the State of Bavaria, I decided to go back to school and get MSc in Sustainable Resource Management and as a result of that, started CarbonBuddy aiming to make living sustainable the preferred choice of the future. Why not start a new era of doing business? Why not do business in a way that benefits people and the planet? It is possible and we are convinced it is actually the far better choice. Thus, CarbonBuddy is determined to become a powerful vehicle in our generations challenging times of climate change. However, we see our self not only committed environmental well-being but also to social standards. We believe it is time for making business in a different way than we did in the past. Therefore, our most valued companions on this voyage will be transparency and fairness. With these principles in mind, businesses can once again benefit societies in which they operate and strive as equal partners. By offsetting with CarbonBuddy, we assure you that your contribution will not only help to tackle climate change but also contribute to living up to these standards because we are convinced that leading by example is one of the most powerful arguments one can achieve to create change.

Thank you for your business and choice for change.

Download
Willingness of Tourists to Reduce Travel Related Carbon Emissions Through Optimized Voluntary Carbon Offsetting. A Study among Tourist to the Island of Hawaii, USA.
Thesis for the International Master's program of Sustainable Resource Management at Technical University of Munich, Germany.
MJ_Seidel_SRM_Masterthesis_final_2017.pd
Adobe Acrobat Document 3.7 MB

Our Principles of doing Business

CarbonBuddy was founded to create solutions for our society to live a climate friendly life's and run a climate friendly businesses. However, that's not where we stop. We are determined to use this opportunity of transforming our energy system and reduce inequality in our local society and around the world at the same time. That' why we are developing offset projects that benefit low-income members of our society and look for international projects that fulfill our standards. Below are our guidelines for doing business and achieving our goals.

Sustainable Hawaii Initiative

With our local projects we plan to support the Sustainable Hawaii Initiative and focus on local food production and renewable energy. You find more information on how our local projects support these goals on the projects page.

Download
Sustainable Hawaii Initiative - Brochure
Sustainable-Hawai27i-Initiative-Brochure
Adobe Acrobat Document 12.9 MB
UN Sustainable Development Goals

With the international projects we offer and develop, we are aiming to support as many of the SDGs as possible with a specific focus on Goal 1, 10, 13, 17. More information on how the projects support these goals can be found in our annual reports.

Click on this link to find suggestions from the UN how to make the world a better place.

Download
UN Sustainable Development Agenda
This Agenda is a plan of action for people, planet and prosperity. It also seeks to strengthen universal peace in larger freedom. We recognize that eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions, including extreme poverty, is the greatest global challenge and an indispensable requirement for sustainable development.
SDA_N1529189.pdf
Adobe Acrobat Document 435.9 KB

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CarbonBuddy is a Kuleana Green Business Member at the Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce.