Save money now: 27 ways to lower your utility bills
In the current economic climate, its been a bit rough for those that want to go green on a budget. Not everyone can...
Read the rest of this articleTravel company yanks carbon offset option
Carbon offsets have been used for years by frequent fliers that want to reduce the impact of their travel on the environment. One travel agency is asking their customers to “make their holiday count” by no longer offering carbon offsets.
UK company Responsibletravel.com began offering carbon offsets to their customers back in 2002. The decision to remove the offsets is due in part to the growing skepticism that they are simply monetary ways to not feel guilty about air travel. The company’s managing director Justin Francis believes that offsets “create a ‘medieval pardon’ for us to carry on believing in the same way or worse.”
Vacationers will now find “carbon warnings” attached to each travel package. The information will detail the impact of the flight on the environment somewhat akin to health warnings for alcohol or cigarettes. The site also directs users on ways to go green at home and lowering the impact of air travel if you must fly.
Francis also argues that people should take more responsibility with their vacations by not only flying less but by taking the train or just staying closer to home. This is an especially gutsy move because it’s the opposite opinion of the British public. According to a study by Loughborough University, less than one in five people are trying to cut their time in the sky for environmental reasons. In addition, the majority of the participants would rather decrease their carbon footprint at home than not fly for a year.
Even those “green” travelers have been found to be the most stubborn when it comes to air travel, as found by research out of Exeter University. The Guardian said that the researchers “found the longest and the most frequent flights were taken by those who were most aware of environmental issues, including the threat posed by climate change.”
Responsibletravel.com should be applauded for their goal of moving away from the “rob Peter to pay Paul” idea of carbon offsets. Their biggest challenge will be with the British public who seem to be as attached to their air travel as much as their football matches.
- Login to post comments
Comments
Responsible Travel is getting quite a lot of press these past few weeks, and I am happy for the discussion it has spawned. It is quite true that just maintaining status quo operations is akin to apathy, and this act of removing carbon offsetting by Responsible Travel is quite bold, and will ultimately be necessary to enact positive change. However, I would question the efficacy of removing it at this particular moment in time. There is no question among intelligent environmentalist of the following two premises, 1) we are currently in trouble because of excessive carbon consumption habits, and 2) carbon offsetting is not the “solution” to reducing carbon consumption. Unfortunately, we cannot yet declare the first statement false, and until we can, carbon offsetting must be considered an effective short term solution that helps us to work toward it.
Yes, carbon offsetting may indeed be a short term solution for a very long term problem that we face. The truth remains, however, that carbon offsetting does reduce global emissions immediately, something most other climate education campaigns cannot claim. Done correctly and in conjunction with educating the public about reducing the carbon footprint first, carbon offsetting can simultaneously achieve quantifiable reductions in global emissions, whilst bringing tangible environmental, social, and health benefits to communities where the projects are implemented.
Most importantly, perhaps, is how offsetting raises awareness about individual carbon consumption. Previous critics of offsetting have promoted targets for per capita emissions, though I challenge anyone ask someone who has never offset a flight how much carbon a transatlantic flight will produce, or ask someone who has never considered offsetting emissions associated with their lifestyle how much their car or heating choice produces. Without a reference point, a 2 t.p.a. target truly means nothing to the average consumer. Offsetting personalizes, quantifies, and allows individuals to take ownership for their emissions choices.
The sort of paradigm shift that Responsible Travel is promoting is indeed noble, but will be difficult to realize. I do applaud their effort and look forward to seeing exactly how they propose to use the travel industry to reduce carbon emissions. In the meantime, I hope that truly responsible travelers will still consider offsetting what they do emit.
Sincerely,
Leda Smith, Blue Ventures Carbon Offset www.bvco.org.uk