Only 6% of airlines offer carbon offset
Posted by DavidM in Transport | 1 December 2007
I've just seen a report on e-photoframes blog looking at the mumber of airlines that offer carbon offset schemes.
In the US it's only 1% of airlines, though it's a little over 6% worldwide.
This shows one of two things; that the airline industry isn't taking climate change - and their part in it - seriously, or that offering offsets isn't seen as a useful marketing technique in the airline industry.
Because let's be honest, if you're serious about climate change you don't do offsets, you cut your emissions. Offsets are a marketing ploy to make customers feel less guilty about that flight to the Costa de Sol.
Actually I think the reality is that both aspects are true - offsets don't sell and the airlines are ignoring the problem.
But I don't think offsets are the answer.
I've written before about an approach that will bring down emissions from airlines.
By setting limits on total annual emissions for flights to and from an airport, it would be commercially more attractive for airports to have more flights with lower emissons than fewer flights with higher emissions.
The total could be reduced year on year, encouraging airlines and aircraft manufacturers to become increasingly efficient and use cleaner fuels.
More polluting airlines will find it harder or more expensive to get landing slots making them less competitive.
It's a good report from e-photoframes that will hopefully keep the debate alive.
