Cruise line fights global warming with carbon-free trips

Small ship cruise line AdventureSmith Explorations has started offering passengers carbon-free trips.

“We are pleased to introduce a sustainable alternative for cruise travelers who are interested in the fight against global warming,” said founder Todd Smith.

He said more than 30% of greenhouse gas emissions worldwide are related to travel.

“Through our Carbon Free Cruising campaign we will completely neutralize harmful carbon emissions created as a result of our guest’s cruise travel,” he said.

How the campaign works:

AdventureSmith Explorations calculates the amount of carbon emitted by each of its small ship expeditions. In turn, when a cruise is purchased, the cruise line contributes a portion of the fares to Sustainable Travel International’s MyClimate carbon offset program.

The later goes for projects such as the building of solar collectors instead of diesel boilers and weatherizing low income housing.

Mr Smith said the cost of the campaign is not passed on to cruise passengers.

AdventureSmith Explorations travel to often exotic, off-the-beaten-path destinations such as Ecuador and Galapagos.

Report by David Wilkening