Air travel is one of the biggest contributors to global carbon emissions, yet for long-distance trips, it's usually the only option. Still, there are easy ways to reduce the environmental impact of your flight.
Fly Direct: It's simple. Less time in the air and at airports translates to a smaller carbon footprint.
Buy Offsets: Donate money to carbon neutralizing projects in proportion to the carbon emissions produced by your flight. Buy offsets when you purchase your airline ticket, or buy them later from an independent provider. Either way, make sure to do your homework-there's little regulation in the retail carbon offset market. Here are five offset providers we trust:
Atmosfair offers a comprehensive calculator on its web site, and is a member of the Gold Standard, an international consortium that requires offsetters to adhere to stringent guidelines that go beyond those laid out in the Kyoto Protocol.
Climate Care has an excellent calculator, and was featured in the Consumer's Guide to Retail Carbon Offset Providers, which was issued by Clean Air-Cool Planet and is still considered one of the best resources for retail offset purchases.
One of the first established players in the retail offset industry, Climate Trust offers separate calculators for air, auto and home emissions, and invests in carbon-neutralizing projects from renewable energy to carbon sequestration.
NativeEnergy focuses on projects that benefit Native American and rural communities. Its "Help Build" model directs funds to projects that need upfront capital to get off the ground.
Sustainable Travel International takes a holistic approach to responsible travel by educating travelers on the environmental and socio-economic effects of their journeys, and by investing in a diverse portfolio of carbon-neutralizing projects.
