The rainforest rescue scheme, launched by new power firm Ovo, shares the cost of sponsoring the land maintaining the land with their customers, which currently number about 30,000.
Ovo says the initiative is the first of its kind and is a partnership with environmental charity Cool Earth and aims to help the area’s indigenous people the Ashaninka.
Half the £6 cost of sponsoring an acre is met by Ovo and the other half (25p a month) is already built in to the company’s tariff.
Ovo managing director, Stephen Fitzpatrick, said: “As an energy supplier, we really had to think about our effect on the planet, so what Ovo is doing in partnership with Cool Earth, is harnessing the power of our customers and using it to make the most significant positive impact on our environment that we could find possible.
“The partnership is committed to protecting rainforest in imminent danger which, without intervention, would be cut down for timber or burnt to make way for crops. Rainforest that forms a protective blockade for tens of thousands of acres of adjacent forest is a priority.
Cool Earth director, Matthew Owen, added: “Offsets won’t save the world – we need to set our sights much higher.
“By preventing 260 tonnes of CO2 emissions for every one of its customers, Ovo is in a green league of its own.
“With deforestation creating a fifth of the world’s carbon emissions, in one single action, Ovo is tackling climate change from the ground up and setting a new standard in what it means to be green.”
Luke Walsh