We’ve all been asked the question when booking air travel. It goes something along the lines of, “Would you like to pay $ to offset your carbon emissions from this flight?”.
This gives passengers the option to reduce the environmental impact of their travel. You check the box, pay a few extra dollars, and feel like you’ve made a socially conscious choice.
But is it really that simple?
How, exactly, are carbon emissions calculated? And how can greenhouse gases be successfully offset to avoid the eco-ramifications of global warming?
How are carbon emissions calculated?
Take the aviation industry as an example. We know flying is one of the worst activities when it comes to CO2 emissions. Globally, domestic and international flights are responsible for around 2.4% of the world’s carbon dioxide production each year.
When flying, the per-person ratio for emissions is determined by finding the total amount of CO2 produced from the fuel burned. Fuel usage (in kilograms) is equated by adding the flight distance, plus take-off, landing and taxiing on the runway. This figure is multiplied by 3.1 to estimate total CO2 emissions and divided by the average number of passengers to give an approximate for each person onboard.
How can carbon emissions be offset?
Carbon offsetting operates under the logic that CO2 emissions can be cancelled-out by stopping emissions elsewhere.
Trees are a secret weapon in carbon offsetting, as they remove and store greenhouse gases from the atmosphere. To counteract carbon released from air traffic activity, airlines buy carbon credits and invest in third-party environmental programs that prevent an equivalent volume of carbon from reaching the atmosphere. For example, paying to protect a wilderness area from deforestation or large-scale tree replanting operations might balance out the greenhouse gas emissions created by flights.
The calculation behind offsetting is on a one-to-one scale: one ton of offset represents the removal of one ton of carbon dioxide. These offset units are used to lower a business’s overall carbon footprint.
What does the future of flight look like?
Even with offsetting, there’s no doubt air travel is bad for the environment. In addition to planting and protecting trees, the way forward must involve a more sustainable fuel source, developing fuel-efficient planes and exploring new technologies. The good news is that global leaders have collectively agreed to work toward a goal of reducing international flight emissions over time, with an aspiration of net-zero emissions by 2050. However, for consumers, for the time being, the best environmental policy is to rethink the need to fly and, consequently, avoid the ‘offset’ decision altogether.
Can other businesses offset their carbon emissions?
It’s not just airlines that use the carbon offsetting method. Many businesses purchase credits and invest in programs that lessen the footprint of their warehouse operations and supply chain.
The tricky part is verifying whether these offsetting programs negate the negative environmental impact and achieve carbon neutrality. Voluntary offsetting programs can sometimes have far-fetched and misleading claims about effectiveness, and it’s hard to know the scale and quality of a business’s efforts.
Government regulations and recommendations are needed in this space to ensure offsetting goes far enough and that ‘buy back’ programs achieve what they intend.
What should businesses do to reduce their carbon footprint?
Alongside carbon offsetting programs, operational and technological improvements are needed to balance CO2 production successfully. Businesses should continue to do their bit by mindfully reviewing their current processes, investing in sustainable products, optimising their supply chain operations and taking responsibility for their carbon footprint.
All calculations aside, it’s consoling to realise that trees are a crucial ally in our fight against climate change. By planting more trees, we’ll be able to support the planet in offsetting carbon emissions and minimising greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere.
