Does Buying Carbon Offsets Do Anything?
If you’re traveling again and have any concerns about climate change, you might be considering buying carbon offset credits to help minimize your flight’s environmental impact. One study found that 8% of the world’s carbon emissions come from tourism, and roughly half of that comes from transport. Air travel makes up a very small percentage of total emissions compared to driving (and obviously industry), but it’s not that small. So should you buy carbon offsets for your flight?
What is carbon offsets?
Carbon offset is the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in one place that offsets emissions created elsewhere. As a consumer, you can purchase offset credits that are invested in community emission reduction projects such as reforestation, efficient kitchen equipment, and wind power.
How much do carbon offsets cost?
There is no flat rate for carbon offsets as it depends on where you buy them and what you want to offset. First, let’s say you’re flying round-trip—nonstop each way—from Los Angeles to New York, with an estimated flight time of about five hours each leg. According to the Cool Effect Bias Calculator , the total carbon footprint for this trip would be 1.56 tons, for a total cost of $19.03. (The cost per ton is $12.20.)
But some compensations are valued depending on the project they support. The Gold Standard, a marketplace for carbon credits, lists rates ranging from $10/tonne for a hydropower initiative in Sri Lanka to $47/tonne to support recycling in Romania. Rather than being tied directly to travel outcomes, the Gold Standard estimates your carbon footprint based on country of residence, although you can also calculate your individual exposure and purchase compensation accordingly. Carbon offsets are tax deductible if you support a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
How do I buy carbon offset for my flight?
Generally, you do not buy carbon offset directly from your airline as most of them partner with other organizations, projects or marketplaces and not all airlines use carbon offset as their main sustainability initiative. Business Traveler has a guide to airline carbon offset programs , but note that Delta no longer offers consumer carbon offsets, and instead United offers sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) premiums that can be purchased.
So, should I buy carbon credits?
One of the main criticisms of consumer carbon offset programs is that regulation is very lax: it’s not always clear what you’re paying for and what the real consequences will be . Funding may not provide benefits that did not exist before, a project may be terminated early, or protection provided in one location may result in damage elsewhere. This approach also puts the responsibility on individuals rather than large corporate polluters, which is a much bigger problem.
What can I do instead of buying carbon offsets?
Your best bet is to find reputable projects and use sites like Cool Effect or Gold Standard. But while buying carbon offsets isn’t necessarily a bad thing, it’s not the only way to take charge of your rides. Obviously, fewer flights greatly reduces your influence, so if this meeting can be on Zoom rather than in person, perhaps it should be. Similarly, staying closer to home can shorten your footprint.
(By comparison, Cool Effect calculates a round-trip from Los Angeles to New York in a full-size sedan of 2.52 tons, which is significantly higher than the impact of flying that distance.)
If you must fly, experts recommend booking non-stop tickets with major commercial airlines, which have larger, fuller aircraft with lower emissions per person than smaller or private flights.