POLITICS.
Offsetting Flights Image by Katie Murnane Words by Graham Kelly
In the last few years, climate action has become a much more prominent and The Guardian columnist George immediate topic. With an Monbiot claims that to keep increase in the visibility of global warming under 2°C of climate change, and more an increase from pre-industrial discussion - but not much levels, there is a need for “a 60% action from governments or cut in global climate emissions institutions - compounded by 2030, which means a by extremely visible protests 90% cut in the rich world.” such as Extinction Rebellion, Whether or not these are the increased pressure has fallen exact figures, as it’s difficult to on individuals to be more quantify, there is undoubtedly aware of their environmental a strong need for a reduction in impact. These cheap flights our carbon footprint, especially have a very real impact. According to in relatively affluent the Myclimate countries such as Foundation, a Swiss Ireland. One area The average climate protection of consumption amount of CO2 NGO, a flight from which has a marked negative effect on produced by a Dublin to New York the environment person in the EU is emits 1.7 tonnes is aviation: a lot 8.4 tonnes. of CO2 - nearly the same amount as an of us are guilty of average car uses in a booking a Ryanair full year’s driving (2 flight to some tonnes). To put this desirable (or just into perspective, shamelessly cheap) destination, perhaps not according to their website, the thinking of the environmental maximum amount of CO2 that impact of aviation. an individual can generate to
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avoid climate change is 0.6 tonnes. However, the average amount of CO2 produced by a person in the EU is 8.4 tonnes. These figures are sobering: seeing your climate damage quantified bluntly reminds us of how much our own behaviour needs to change. This doesn’t necessarily mean that we must lock ourselves at home and never step foot on a plane again: one concept for reducing one’s carbon footprint is carbon offsetting. This is a method allowing people to“compensate for their unavoidable emissions by financing emission reduction projects around the world.” This is a definition provided by South Pole; an organisation that provides global sustainability financing solutions. A consumer can offset their carbon pollution by investing in projects which pull carbon out of the air. There are a number of carbon offset websites, which allow consumers to calculate their emissions and pay to have them offset, through projects such as planting trees, or investing in more fuel-efficient stoves
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