Airline Carbon Offset schemes: who really benefits? Qantas Airways claims that on a flight from San Francisco to Sydney, I could pay 23.50AUD extra to %26quot;offset%26quot; my share (allegedly 1.958 tonnes CO2-e) of emissions as a result of the flight.
Regardless of whether my rear-end was on the seat or out on the tarmac -
Unless that flight was cancelled...it%26#039;d still take off, still spew out all it%26#039;s emissions...still business as usual right?
So...
Do you agree these Carbon Offset programs are really just %26quot;piece of mind%26quot; type business models, and are similar to Travel Insurance in a sense - Only difference is that you probably won%26#039;t actually be able to %26quot;make a claim on this policy%26quot; in the near future or perhaps even your lifetime?
Or do you really trust these large Corporations who have these Offset programs? Will they put your money to good use and plant lovely trees, convert their planes to run on Hydrogen fuels...whatever else they claim?

Best Answer

Airline carbon offsets are really there to make you feel better about your travel. Carbon offsets in general (in my opinion) are something of a joke. The companies handling the carbon offsets are making are making money and, depending on just what they do to generate those offsets, may or may not actually be doing anything to really reduce carbon emissions.

Travel Insurance can actually be usefull. I had to make a claim once when a hurricane stopped me from going on a cruise. Carbon Offsets... not so useful, just for piece of mind.

Let%26#039;s be clear on one thing though. The airlines are not making money off your carbon offset payments (if you choose to buy them). That money goes to whatever company they have partnered with that actually handles the credits. A good friend of mine helped set up the carbon offset program at Continental Airlines.

Asker's Rating:

A satisfactory response.
I agree on most of the points raised.

Other Answers (4)

• It is a scam and I am surprised u fell for it.
• its a scam. al gore and his un buddy will line their pockets will all of the carbon offset $. can%26#039;t believe so many people buy into this crap. I%26#039;m all for saving the planet but i don%26#039;t see al doing his part.
• No one is capable of doing what this Carbon offset companies claim to do for the price they charge. They are a complete fraud.
• If joe emits 10 units of carbon and Al emit 100 units. If Al buys 80 units of carbon offset from joe, it doesn%26#039;t deter Al from emitting any less carbon. It is a fraudulent scheme and I hope Gore goes to court over this. It will do absolutely nothing but make someone money. Global warming is a hoax and what better way to profit from a hoax than a fraudulent scheme.
  If Gore believes everything he says, than he should lead by example. Live in a small house and have his lectures done by satellite feeds. That way he doesn%26#039;t have to cart his but around in a private jet and produce all of his so called carbon footprints.