Thursday, March 06, 2008

What can BA do for you?

So, I was pricing flights to London for what may well turn out to be a fantasy trip (as in, I fantasize but never actually go), and look what I saw when quoting a fare on British Airways:

Offset the carbon emissions for these flights

carbon offset

You can help minimise the impact of your flying by offsetting your carbon emissions. The total carbon emissions from your itinerary are 1.10 tonnes and the cost of offsetting your emissions is $ 32.00.

Your money will go towards UN certified emission reduction projects.

* Please be aware that once your carbon offset contribution is paid, it cannot be refunded.

This is one of those times when I feel quite old and out of it. Is this really a standard thing now? I've heard of carbon offsetting, of course, but I must admit, this took me by surprise.

2 comments:

  1. I hate the propaganda
    - it's everywhere at the moment.

    The problem with carbon offsetting is that they allegedly do it by planting trees. And that doesn't work in the long term, because a tree is carbon neutral iself - it may absorb carbon in the short term, but when it dies and rots/burns etc all the carbon is released back into the atmosphere.

    Grrrrr (aimed at the spin merchants and do-gooders, not the trees)

    I not sure I would use BA anyway - we flew Virgin and were very happy with them. Don't know if you can do it over there, but if you take out a Virgin Money credit card and book with it, you get a percentage off the flights....

    Hopefully you will get to London - and Shakespeare-land to see us too :-)

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  2. The UK Government is setting up a code of best practice relating to offsetting, so that any offsets purchased will result in a net co2 emission reduction.

    Just to add to the comment above, offsets aren't all about projects planting trees but help fund also renewable energy, fuel switching, non-ghg reduction and industrial energy efficiency projects.

    Offsetting is not the solution to climate change but when emissions can't be avoided, at least you can reduce net future emissions. I think BA are actually being pretty proactive and responsible. Also not e Virgin may soon be offsetting and two major EU travel companies are putting out messages that offsetting will play a part in their emissions reductions strategies.

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