Can you buy your way out of hell with carbon offset fees?
Carbon offset fees work like penance in the Roman Catholic Church. They won't exactly prevent you from committing certain sins, such as traveling by plane, but they might make you feel less guilty about committing them. At least that's how they work on me. Confessions of a selfish traveler
Last year, I spent roughly 190 hours flying and by doing so I generated 46,69 metric tonnes of CO2. Probably enough to get me a first class ticket to Hell courtesy of Greenpeace. Other than traveling by air extensively, I try to be good to the environment. I recycle, live in a small apartment, use public transportation and energy-efficient light bulbs.
According to the Stern report, the aviation industry accounts for only 1,6 percent of greenhouse gas emissions. Electricity generation accounts for 24% of global carbon emissions, deforestation accounts for 18% and road transport accounts for 10%. And that's forgetting bovine flatulence.
Still, I can't help but feel guilty about my contribution to it. Every time I fly now, I try to add the "carbon emission offset" fee whenever the airlines offer it. I figured it was about time to find out where my money is actually going.


Today is April 22, which means that if you have any sort of eco-conscious, you have already picked up on the Earth Day theme here at Gadling.













