The Traveler's Dilemma: how to offset your carbon emissions
Air travel is the most energy and resource-intensive
mode of travel. However, many Canadians must travel
regularly for business and limiting their time in
the air is not always an option. Is there a way to counter some of the
green house gas emissions associated with traveling
the world at 35,000 feet?
Zerofootprint, a Toronto-based carbon offsetting
company, provides a ready-made solution for
flight travel. It starts with calculating the amount of
greenhouse gas emissions for each trip and ends
with purchasing "offsets" that equal the measured
carbon released during the trip. For example, a
return trip from Toronto to Vancouver creates 3/4
of a tonne of carbon per passenger and you can
offset this with a $10 "offset" purchase.
Carbon offset companies invest in carbon
sequestering (storing) projects such as tree planting
and conservation projects that are required to
slow the effects of climate change.
There are a growing number of online
resources that include carbon calculators to let
you know how many offsets to purchase and the
impact of their carbon sequestering projects. Be
sure to look for ones that are audited and verified
for compliance with ISO 14064-2 as well as other
standard criteria. With this advanced level of
knowledge about the impact of our many trips, it
is now possible to ease the burden of carbon
emissions from fast-paced travel. Too bad there
isn't as simple a solution for jetlag...
Author: Jenn Gaudette
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