Carbon Offsetting 101

Ever thought about offsetting the CO2 created by flying or other lifestyle choices? (hummer racing anyone?)

I admit to being a travel addict – although I’m not fond of cramming my 6’2 frame into an airplane seat. Several times I’ve thought about carbon offsetting, but I never followed through. Things recently aligned to prod me to actually research the options and put it in action.

In the spirit of saving you some time and perhaps prompt you to try offsetting, I thought I’d share what I found.

First the bad news: a single long-haul flight can contribute a year’s worth of carbon footprint in CO2 emissions per passenger. Flying is a significant contributor to global warming beyond raw emissions due to chemical reactions, contrails and higher flights.

The good news? Offsetting is easy, certification standards have improved and the cost is relatively cheap. One ton of CO2 averages $10-15 – I calculated the round trip flight miles from SFO to Auckland and paid $84 to offset 13,000 miles through Native Energy.

The reductions were achieved through 50% efficiency (replacing equipment, technology that reduces energy consumption) and 50% biomass (tree planting, methane capture, etc.), which in turn provides jobs for the Native American community. Three birds with one stone – in less than two minutes.

There are many organizations and companies offering carbon offsetting now – but their approach can vary widely. Carbon Concierge puts out an annual ranking of companies providing offsets based on research from the Bainbridge Institute.

Don’t have the time to calculate before flying? My city of San Francisco is in luck – it will be the first airport in the world where you can offset at the airport via Carbon Kiosks.

Have your own carbon offset story or tips? Share it below in the comment section!

Photo by Tim Wagner