· 2 min read
illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece in The Huffington Post or enjoy below
🗞️ Driving the news: As carbon emissions concerns mount, several airlines and travel platforms have started providing "carbon offsets" to customers, essentially counterbalancing emissions by cutting the same amount of carbon elsewhere
• Yet, the authenticity and impact of these offsets are being critically examined
🔭 The context: Air travel is a significant contributor to carbon emissions, accounting for about 3% of global emissions and 10% of U.S. transportation-related emissions
• Despite these staggering figures, many travellers overlook calculating their carbon emissions as part of their travel preparation process
🌎 Why does it matter for the planet: By offering carbon offsets, airlines and travel platforms aim to neutralise the environmental impact of flying
• However, if these offerings do not provide the impact they promise, this could mislead travellers into thinking they are travelling carbon-neutral when they are not
⏭️ What's next: Experts suggest travellers should calculate their carbon emissions when they travel and then use that information to take action in their own life, such as reducing unnecessary travel or changing daily habits to lower carbon emissions
💬 One quote: “You can’t be sure that a dollar spent on an offset is actually keeping CO2 out of the atmosphere. And there is no offset as good as not emitting that CO2 in the first place because there’s always some uncertainty or time lag or other issue associated with it.” (Stephen Porder, Professor at Brown University)
📈 One stat: According to the carbon offset nonprofit Cool Effect, carbon offset purchases saw a 186% YoY increase in the first quarter of this year compared to 2022, indicating a rising interest in carbon offsetting
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