Flights where you've carbon offset?

[docjames]

I thought in light of the ongoing Carbon Tax thread http://www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au/community/open-discussion/carbon-tax-29438.html (and policial debate) I wondered about the following:

What % of Flights do AFFers use the Carbon Offset offered by the various airlines?

I've constructed a poll based on % of flights, but no doubt it's more comlicated than that (this is AFF).

Do members offset/not offset based on distance, only domestic, only international, only "status runs", on cost per flight - I'm sure there's many so please share.

Please keep this thread as a discussion of the ways people do it, not attacking others for the way they go about it.

 

[rechoboam]

I do not, have not, and will not ever (except if it is the cheapest way of buying a "Qantas service" for a credit card).

If someone is going to commit a crime, and they pay someone else not to commit a crime while they themselves commit a crime, are they crime-neutral?

Consistent with the rest of the way I live my life, I don't waste money or resources on flights that aren't needed, for example I teleconference monthly even though I could have the company pay to fly MEL-SYD and have coffee with the boys.

I love the fact that some rocket scientists are analysing contrails to work out whether they cause global warming, while other rocket scientists launch(ed) space shuttles into the air on missions that are sometimes of doubtful overall benefit and seriously carbon-positive!

 

[Limewood]

Might think about it when USA, India and China and the other mountain of countries have carbon offsets, probably not in my lifetime.

 

[Moody]

I do for personal but not business travel. This seems incongruous as my travel is mostly business related and the carbon offset would not be coming out of my own pocket in those instances, but the expense claim is so convoluted (because of the separate invoice) that it is just too much bother.

I would much rather Qantas include it in the ticket price and give the climate deny'ers (or the truly hard up) the option to get it rebated.

 

[777]

I guess one of us needed to be in the 75-99% category. I do it wherever possible and available -- slightly complicated on award flights or on some carriers. I pay for it out of my own pocket in most instances. I have some skepticism about offsets but the price is fairly modest and i am genuinely concerned about the effect of carbon emissions on the environment. I don't think i could look my grandkids in the eye if i didn't at least make some effort.

 

[rechoboam]

From the QF website:

The Siam Cement Biomass Project replaces fossil fuels with renewable biomass in five cement manufacturing plants in Thailand. Previously, cement manufacturers burned fossil fuels like coal, lignite (brown coal), pet-coke and heavy fuel oil in kilns to manufacture cement. Now, the introduction of renewable biomass to help replace fossil-fuels has reduced carbon emissions.

There's an accounting error here isn't there?

1. To stop the planet warming we need to reduce CO2 emissions a lot, presumably by 99.9%, and even that will take hundreds of years to work. But let's agree for now that that's a basic principle.

2. If we "carbon offset", the Thai manufacturers will reduce their emissions by (let's say) 99%.

3. WE haven't reduced anything. We keep flying (increasingly often).

4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 ad infinitum.

So how does this work? We have to stop flying airplanes to reduce CO2 emissions unless we have a new source of energy-intense fuel. Even if we all "offset" all the time, we are still doing the damage.

 

[nlagalle]

I only did it 2 or 3 times, and only because it was during the Great Amex promo of 2008 (5 for 5000), so they got me over the line for another few transactions! Otherwise no chance at all.

 

[markis10]

I reduced my consumption of the bean burritos in the BNE J lounge on the weekend in an effort to reduce methane emissions, is that an offset?

 

[tuapekastar]

Not a brass razoo. I can't remember the wording on the QF site, but it's not enough to sell me on whatever it is they're doing, exactly. And it's hard to hand over more when already being stung the CC fees.

 

[Kendall Roy]

i reduced my consumption of the bean burritos in the bne j lounge on the weekend in an effort to reduce methane emissions, is that an offset?

:d:d:d:d:d

 

[Noob]

Might think about it when USA, India and China and the other mountain of countries have carbon offsets, probably not in my lifetime.

India does? And China are planning one apparently...

 

[BVT]

I guess one of us needed to be in the 75-99% category. I do it wherever possible and available -- slightly complicated on award flights or on some carriers. I pay for it out of my own pocket in most instances. I have some skepticism about offsets but the price is fairly modest and i am genuinely concerned about the effect of carbon emissions on the environment. I don't think i could look my grandkids in the eye if i didn't at least make some effort.

And then there were two!

I always do for persoanl travel. Work travel is slightly more complcated; but if I book it direct then I pay it.

 

[jdlover23]

Yes for all personal travel, work generally I don't book, so i doubt it would be offset, my travel is about 90% personal.

 

[trippin_the_rift]

I was very cold in bed last night, even with the air on 26 and the electric blanket on.

Clearly too many people are choosing carbon offset

 

[Isochronous]

Never - not interested in subsidising Al Gore's hedge fund.