Understanding Air Travel and Carbon Offsets

The impact of the first human flight, undertaken on Christmas Day in 1903, was enormous. The Wright Brothers only covered 37 meters, remaining airborne for just 12 seconds. However, they inspired the technology that led to an estimated 39 million flights in 2019.

Through those millions of flights each year, the global aviation industry is responsible for about 2 percent of all human-induced carbon dioxide emissions – the kind of impact our world now desperately needs to reduce.

Carbon emissions hang over a future scientists describe in terrifying terms: rising sea levels, crop failure, climate refugees, and catastrophic weather patterns. That’s why Greta Thunberg, a young climate activist who inspired millions to participate in the Global Climate Strike in September of this year, has sworn off air travel completely.

However, should we all take such drastic action – even going so far as to cancel plans to fly this holiday season?

If flying home for the holidays invokes a montage of memories reminiscent of the opening of ‘Love, Actually,’ then permanently grounding yourself may be unrealistic – heartbreaking, even. Nonetheless, there is a middle ground. Choosing to fly less and/or purchasing carbon offsets can mitigate the impact of air travel without sacrificing your ability to visit loved ones or explore new destinations. It’s akin to paying someone to follow you with a mop as you track muddy footprints through a home or an airport, cleaning as you go. (But, of course, it’s not that simple.)

What is a Carbon Footprint?

A carbon footprint measures the amount of fossil fuels (including coal, oil, and natural gas) used to power human activities, typically calculated annually. You can use online calculators to measure your carbon footprint, considering everything from your diet to the miles you drive to work. Additionally, you can assess the carbon footprint of your next flight.

Carbon dioxide (CO2) is one of six greenhouse gases contributing to global warming. The others include Methane (CH4), Nitrous oxide (N2O), Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), Perfluorocarbons (PFCs), and Sulphur hexafluoride (SF6). A carbon footprint addresses all greenhouse gases in terms of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e), allowing for fair comparison of emissions based on their 100-year warming potential.

For instance, the carbon footprint of a flight from San Francisco to New York City is approximately 0.688 t CO2 (or .688 tonnes of Carbon Dioxide). Therefore, understanding individual footprints is essential; according to the World Economic Forum, the average carbon footprint per person is 14.95 t in the United States, 9.04 t in Japan, and 5.65 t in the United Kingdom.

What is a Carbon Offset?

A carbon offset represents a financial contribution to projects that capture carbon or help reduce future greenhouse gas emissions, typically based in developing countries. If you wish to ‘neutralize’ the carbon emissions of a flight, you can purchase carbon offsets that fund projects such as tree planting, building solar panels, or capturing methane from landfills.

Given the modern world’s realities, it is nearly impossible to avoid carbon emissions entirely. Even if you were to walk from San Francisco to New York instead of flying, your shoes would have a carbon footprint stemming from their production, transportation, and materials. Consequently, purchasing offsets is a way to alleviate the impact of unavoidable emissions.

Should You Buy Carbon Offsets When Flying?

Returning to the analogy of muddy footprints: the reality of paying someone else to clean your mess carries inherent risks. Do you trust the person with the mop to ensure their cleaning doesn’t leave new muddy footprints behind?

When entering credit card information to buy carbon offsets after booking your flight, you may wonder whether the funds effectively reach a landowner in the Amazon responsible for preserving land against clearcutting.

The carbon offset system is evolving; it is far from perfect, but improvements are being made.

For example, I purchased offsets from Myclimate.org for a flight from Portland, Oregon to Fort Collins, Colorado, where I attended a conference on environmental journalism. Given the nature of my trip and my desire to reduce my carbon footprint, I initially considered driving the 17 hours rather than flying for two. However, I found that flying on a full plane results in a smaller footprint than driving a car that distance alone. (Carpooling would have made driving a better option.)

Myclimate aids in making calculations for various transportation options, from flights to foot travel to cruises. Additionally, the site allowed me to choose the carbon-combatting program I wanted to support; I opted to help small-scale farmers in Nicaragua with native species reforestation. My flight’s footprint was approximately .591 t and cost $16 to offset.

When looking for valuable carbon offsets, consider the effectiveness and whether it’s an additional effort beyond what is already being done. Unfortunately, regardless of the program you choose, gauging whether the actions you’re supporting would occur without your purchase of carbon credits is quite challenging.

Goldstandard.org is an organization that provides carbon offsetting with stringent guidelines for endorsed programs. They require reductions to be ‘real, additional, and permanent,’ and each offsetting program must contribute to three sustainable development goals (SDGs). Interested travelers can browse various projects and obtain reports on topics such as safe water access in Rwanda, low smoke stoves in Darfur, and more.

Bret Love, co-founder of the sustainable travel blog Green Global Travel, recommends The Nature Conservancy‘s carbon offset program. He states, ‘They’re a top-rated environmental NGO with a long track record of conservation. Along with planting forests, they protect existing forests, rivers, and wetlands while working directly with local communities on conservation projects. Many other programs focus solely on tree planting, which is just a fraction of the necessary actions for combating climate change.’

A common concern for potential carbon offset purchasers is the low cost associated with offsets. With all the urgency surrounding carbon emissions, one may wonder how my $16 adequately offsets a flight. Currently, carbon offsets are inexpensive due to numerous low-cost initiatives aimed at reducing carbon footprints. Nevertheless, as more people engage in carbon offsetting, the available ‘low hanging fruit’ projects will diminish, leading to a gradual increase in costs to support more comprehensive initiatives. This can be seen as a positive development.

In conclusion, although uncertainties surround carbon offsetting, it’s essential to focus on reducing your carbon footprint first and utilizing offsets as a secondary measure. The Wright brothers transformed the way we connect with different people and places, fostering a sense of closeness and connection. This holiday season—and as long as people continue to travel—it’s crucial for each of us to choose methods to advocate for the world that the pioneers of modern air travel helped to unlock.