Green Inspirations: Carbon Offsetting

Green Inspirations

I am inspired each day by all the many good souls who refuse to be let down by all the negativity that surrounds our future on this beautiful planet we all live on. I look around and see so much potential for happiness, a life away from consuming everything in our paths. This new world has communities again and it has neighbors sitting on their stoops engaging each other in conversation, laughing and sharing. In these communities there are also huge gardens providing fresh produce for everyone, and people will be once again connected with the food they eat. My dreams see a simpler more peaceful life, one filled with purpose again.

On this website I will share my findings of all incredible individuals out there who are creating, speaking out and leading the way to our new earth.

Tuesday, April 10, 2007

Carbon Offsetting - For it or Against it?

Everyone is talking about carbon offsetting, so what's the big deal?!

Carbon offsetting is becoming a popular method available for traveling with a conscious. There are packages available when flying so you the consumer can lower your eco-footprint by purchasing your carbon emissions back. How does this exactly work? Well companies like Offsetters.com use the added surcharge on your plane ticket and re-invest it into planting trees, (for example). So even though the carbon is still being released into the atmosphere when you fly, the goal is that the planted trees will absorb the carbon; making the trip carbon neutral. They also make it pretty easy and affordable for you. On their website you can play with a carbon calculator that tabulates your carbon emissions and tells you how much it would cost to offset the trip. For example, a return trip from Vancouver, BC to London, UK costs $40.39 (on top of the flight cost), releases 2.142 tonnes of carbon into the atmosphere at a distance of 7574 km. Offsetters also has a partnership with WestJet, so WestJet will tack on the extra surcharge if you request it when purchasing your flight ticket. Airplane travel causes a huge amount of carbon dioxide to be released into the atmosphere, so next time you book your trip look into offsetting your carbon emissions, because every little bit helps!