Whilst flying is not the major contributor to climate change its impact (our impact) is significant and growing.
Be very sceptical of claims of carbon neutrality. The Green House Gas pollution caused by flying is immediate as is the contribution to climate change.
Beware of Offsets
Offsetting is rarely, if ever, immediate in its mitigation. Often the offsets for sale in the market place are uncertain and they may fund remedial action taken years ago. Offsets have been compared to medieval pardons purchased, often by consumers, to enable “business as usual”. Take a look at www.cheatneutral.com
One of the big problems with carbon offsets is that they put no pressure on the supplier to make their product more carbon efficient and to reduce the carbon pollution they produce.
Caveat emptor: carbon offsets are offered at wildly different prices mainly by for profit companies. This is a market in which the purchaser needs to beware, it is also a complex market with a wide range of products offering to offset carbon emissions at wildly different prices. You need to take responsibility for you emissions, not simply to look for the cheapest way of assuaging your guilt.
Take Responsibility – Fly Smart
By flying smart you can take responsibility for your carbon emissions and encourage the airlines and airports to exercise their responsibility.
Three steps to FlySmart
- Fly less – take the train wherever possible, reduce your air miles for leisure and work.
- Fly more carbon efficiently – make purchasing choices will encourage airlines to reduce their emissions.
- Fly direct
- Choose a charter flight or economy - your emissions will be less.
- Carry less baggage
- Fly with airlines that fill their planes.
Choose the most carbon efficient carriers at FlySmartSelector
- Fly less miles, fly more carbon efficiently then use the carbon calculator to calculate the environmental costs of your flight and donate to a Carbon Philanthropy project.
Carbon Philanthropy provides a non-profit alternative to carbon offsetting, providing you with a choice of initiatives which address the causes of climate change or assist communities to adapt to climate change, change caused in part by our travel. Each of the Carbon Philanthropy initiatives presented by Travel Philanthropy has been screened by an independent panel of experts. Here are a couple of current Carbon Philanthropy charitable causes, which have been identified by registered charity Travel Philanthropy.
- www.justgiving.com/centreforsustainableenergy
- www.justgiving.com/flysmart
Carbon Philanthropy
Carbon Philanthropy provides a transparent and non-profit alternative to carbon offsetting. The opportunities that Travel Philanthropy is listing as Carbon Philanthropy provide you with a choice of initiatives that address the causes of climate change and/or assist communities to adapt to climate change, caused in part by our travel.
Neither carbon offsets nor Carbon Philanthropy can remove Green House Gas (GHG) pollution, which we cause when we consume carbon fuels. The best strategy is to cause less pollution by flying less, avoiding short haul flights, using direct long haul flights, and choosing the more efficient carriers; for details on how to do this see FlySmart. When you do fly, consider making a voluntary donation. You cannot reduce your GHG emissions to zero but if you want to mitigate your impact choose a carbon-related charitable initiative with which you can identify and encourage your friends to do the same.
Resources
Guide to Carbon Offsets www.carbonoffsetguide.co.uk
Kimber H (2007) Flight plan: taking responsibility for aviation emissions http://www.iied.org/pubs/pdfs/17019IIED.pdf
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