With global travel becoming more and more popular, it is becoming increasingly important to think about the environmental impact and carbon footprint of your trips around the world.
Existing carbon in the atmosphere is already catastrophically high and simply cutting carbon emissions tomorrow, would still not be sufficient to stop climate change and warming. In May 2018, it was discovered that tourism accounts for 8% of total carbon emissions, approximately 3 times more than previously thought. I hope that puts into perspective how important it is that us travellers, understand the full impact of our world exploration.
But how do we feel about carbon offsetting? Does it make us feel less guilty by paying a small fee to a corporation, like climatecare.org, who will invest your money in one of their climatecare projects, designed to protect the environment and improve lives.
eg: London Heathrow to Denpasar (Bali), via Dubai, return journey, generates 3.57 tonnes of CO2 per passenger (crazy, right?). According to Climate Care, this would cost an individual a mere £26.79. Access the climatecare calculator here.
Critics of carbon offsetting question how reliable these calculations are and whether the money you invest is actually being invested in to the correct schemes and projects.
Of course, it is better that we offset, rather than do nothing and travel the world, but should we just aim to travel less or via more sustainable means!
What do you think?
Obviously, ones carbon footprint is not limited to travelling. The way one lives can also have an impact. A friend of mine, Emily Rampling, started her own website aiming to educate people about how to live more green and sustainably. I love what she has designed. Check it out here.
